Known world wide for the Arabian horses she bred at
Crabbet Park , this is one of Lady Wentworths many books. The daughter of Lady
Anne and Wilfred Blunt, famous for their travels to the Middle East and
importations of some of the finest Arabian horses to England. This book covers
care, breaking and training, selecting breeding stock, conformation and action,
buying ,temperment, teeth and their importance, management , understanding of
horses and more. She shares her thoughts and opinions based on a lifetime
involvement with horses and ponies. Not specifically about Arabians, but lots of
pictures and references. There are also plenty of her illustrations , many of
which are quite amusing. Lady Wentworth has an interesting and entertaining
writing style, sometimes blunt, sometimes funny, "Remember that your horse is
largely what you yourself make of him so don't blame him too much if he behaves
like an idiot! Maybe he's acting like the nomads mirror and reflects too
faithfully!" . She also shares stories of her childhood, riding a zebra, her
father, Wilfred Blunt, harnessing a stag to a carriole only to have it leap a
fence, exotic pets, riding experiences etc..
There are also
several of her poems in this book. As a breeder of
horses Lady Wentworth lived through the period of history that saw the practical
value and use of horses diminish, and expressed a fear that Britain would lose
its horse breeding supremacy to America and those "free handed and clever
American breeders."
Interesting and informative book from a breeder whos
horses have world wide influence. Hard cover book in good condition for its age with a fair dust jacket, missing chips top and bottom of spine and all four corners. Generously illustrated with B&W photographs as well as drawings, several quite amusing, by the author. Copyright 1951,
first edition,155 pages.