Draft Horses

School Library Journal

Gr 3-6 In a clear writing style, Patent defines the five primary draft horse breeds, adding three other ``draft animals''the Norwegian Fjord Horse, the Austrian Hafflinger, and the mule. As well as covering the breeds' history and attributes, she also discusses care and uses of heavy horses in today's world. Munoz' black-and-white photos bring the horses to life, with most shots being informal poses of horses free in paddocks or tacked up in harness. This book is similar to Lavine and Casey's Wonders of Draft Horses (Dodd, 1983). Both cover the same subject area for this age group. Lavine and Casey include more detail, with an emphasis on the historical background, while Patent concentrates on present-day uses of the horses. This new book may be more appealing to younger readers, with its simpler explanations and livelier text and photos. Knowledgeable readers may question a few minor slipsa horse's feet should be checked all year, not only in the springtime. Patent mentions a ``female horse'' and the horse's father and mother instead of the correct terms, mare, sire, and dam. These do not detract from the book's usefulness, either for recreational reading or information. Charlene Strickland, Los Angeles County Public Library, Valencia