Can you recommend a book for a complete novice?

[RacingSnake]

DD and I are complete novices - she is three and loves ponies but is nervous of big horses. I have a friend with five horses of various sizes and ages who is very willing to share them with us. Can you recommend a book that would teach us a bit about ponies (and possibly children relating with ponies)?

Actually, I can, it's written by my friend Tricia Day www.britishhorse.com/acatalog/understand-your-pony.html
This is one of her websites (she does other horsey things as well) www.fun4ponies.com

Thanks. Will have a look right now!

You could look into stable management courses at various riding schools, pony club for daughter? There's also a magazine which has lots of information and articles pitched at varying levels of experience but I forget which one.

a bit of healthy respect is good, my nearly 3yr old dd will just walk behind horses at my work with no clue - it is a hard balance to teach respect versus fear. I would always assume that unless you are with horses loads and loads that a wee one can't really be trusted to be safe without a good deal of supervision. Just getting to kinow your friends horses and talking about what they are 'telling' you about whether they are relaxed, tense etc will help your daughter. it is great that you are both getting this opportunity, learn all you can and you never know, you might be bitten by the bug and eventually want your own! have fun!

Yes, I'm finding it hard to teach 'don't walk behind the ponies' without frightening her. At the moment she is rather too comfortable with the shetlands.