Books published by publisher CompanionHouse Books

In Turtles & Tortoises beginning hobbyists of all ages will find amazing facts and useful information about turtles and tortoises from around the world. Author Russ Case, a noted author and reptile and amphibian specialist, recommends the top twelve turtles and tortoises that are best for first-time keepers, not counting, of course, the familiar box turtle. From the smaller examples, like the mud turtle that grows only 5 inches, to the Galapagos giant tortoise, which can weigh over 700 pounds, Turtles & Tortoises opens up the whole captivating world of chelonians to the reader. This color guide covers the origins of these fascinating creatures as well as the health, feeding, housing, and care of these fascinating creatures.

Ginger Kathrens continues the saga of the wild horses of the Arrowheads in Cloud’s Legacy, a companion volume to PBS’s NATURE program. An award-winning wildlife documentary filmmaker, Kathryns is passionate about the plight of wild horses in North America, and it is with great joy that she watches the cast of Cloud’s Legacy run and interact freely on America’s wide open spaces. Her great story-telling abilities are beautifully enhanced by the exciting color photography that adorns each chapter of this handsome volume. The cast of characters in this saga has expanded beyond the first Cloud documentary to include over thirty different horses (all of which are listed in the appendix of the book). The story is told in 22 engaging chapters that follow Cloud and his growing family through their real-life adventures in the Rocky Mountains. Kathrens’s documentaries about Cloud, his cohorts, and family won the CINE Golden Eagle Awards, Chicago International Television Competition, U.S. International Film and Video Festival, and the WorldFest Houston International Film Festival.

An entertaining and educational introduction to the world of lizards of all sizes, colors, shapes, and personalities, Lizards provides keepers of all ages with intriguing information about common and unusual lizards. This colorful guide by herp expert Russ Case offers beginners who are looking to adopt a lizard the right guidance for purchasing a healthy specimen and for creating a safe, comfortable home where the pet lizard can thrive. Beginners will learn about the anatomy of lizards and their behavior in the wild and in captivity. The chapter “Lizard Food” is a lesson in how to provide lizards with the proper nutrients so that owners meet all of the special needs of their pets. The chapter “Five Most Excellent Lizard Pets” presents the most common species for newcomers, including the leopard gecko, green anole, bearded dragon, Chinese water dragon, blue-tongued skink, each illustrated with color photos and detailed with specific advice about feeding and housing. Additional examples of lizards are covered in “Other Cool Lizards,” such as the green iguana, chameleon, monitor lizard, tokay and day geckos and uromastyx; all of which are fascinating to read about though not recommended for beginners. A chapter on potential health problems gives a basic overview of how to care for and maintain captive lizards in the best of health. Sidebars throughout the text give the reader good advice on dos and don’ts to avoid common mistakes keepers make with these pet animals. Glossary included.

An entertaining and educational introduction to the world of lizards of all sizes, colors, shapes, and personalities, Lizards provides keepers of all ages with intriguing information about common and unusual lizards. This colorful guide by herp expert Russ Case offers beginners who are looking to adopt a lizard the right guidance for purchasing a healthy specimen and for creating a safe, comfortable home where the pet lizard can thrive. Beginners will learn about the anatomy of lizards and their behavior in the wild and in captivity. The chapter “Lizard Food” is a lesson in how to provide lizards with the proper nutrients so that owners meet all of the special needs of their pets. The chapter “Five Most Excellent Lizard Pets” presents the most common species for newcomers, including the leopard gecko, green anole, bearded dragon, Chinese water dragon, blue-tongued skink, each illustrated with color photos and detailed with specific advice about feeding and housing. Additional examples of lizards are covered in “Other Cool Lizards,” such as the green iguana, chameleon, monitor lizard, tokay and day geckos and uromastyx; all of which are fascinating to read about though not recommended for beginners. A chapter on potential health problems gives a basic overview of how to care for and maintain captive lizards in the best of health. Sidebars throughout the text give the reader good advice on dos and don’ts to avoid common mistakes keepers make with these pet animals. Glossary included.

A Beginning Vivarium Systems guide, Snakes is an entertaining and educational introduction to the world of snakes of all sizes, colors, and personalities. Beginning snake keepers of all ages will find intriguing information about common and unusual snakes in this colorful guide by herp expert Russ Case. The book offers readers who are looking to adopt a snake the right guidance for purchasing a healthy specimen and for creating a safe, comfortable home where the pet snake can thrive. Beginners will learn about the anatomy of snakes and their behavior in the wild and in captivity. The chapter “Snake Food” is a lesson in how to feed snakes so that owners meet all of the special needs of their pets. The chapter “Great Beginner Snakes” present the most common species for newcomers to snakes, including such favorites as the corn snake, California king snake, ball python, and the rosy boa, each illustrated with color photos and explained in clear everyday language. Additional examples of “Other Amazing Snakes” are included, such as the boa constrictor, Burmese python, reticulated python, king cobra, rattlesnake, which are fascinating to read about though not recommended for beginners. A chapter on potential health problems gives a basic overview of how to care for and maintain captive snakes in the best of health. Sidebars throughout the text give the reader good advice on dos and don’ts to avoid common mistakes keepers make with these pet animals. Glossary included.

An easy-to-read primer for horse selection, care, and training ideal for readers of all ages, Your Happy Healthy Horse covers every topic a new or potential horse owner will need to become his or her horse’s best friend. Author Lesley Ward, an accomplished horse trainer and the editor of Young Rider magazine, has provided an excellent starting point for beginners who are ready to purchase their first horse and take on the responsibility of husbandry and training.The selection of the most appropriate horse for an individual is key to the new owner’s having a great time with his or her horse, and the opening chapter “Finding the Right Horse” discusses all of the necessary considerations (personality, mare or gelding, breed, size, etc.). Acclimating the new horse to a barn and field, possibly with other horses, is the subject of “Footloose in the Field.” This chapter discusses field requirements such as fencing, water, and shelter and the everyday and monthly tasks of a horse owner. Health is an important consideration for all keepers, and the chapter “Staying Healthy” addresses recognizing a sick horse, first aid, veterinary care, parasites, tooth care, hoof care, and grooming. There is an excellent section on therapies that owners may be interested in exploring, from chiropractics and massage to basic stretches and tail whirls. In the chapter on feeding, the author offers ten essential rules that effectively serve as feeding guidelines for companion horses. She also discusses types of feed and supplements as well as the how to maintain the horse at a healthy weight.There are three chapters devoted to training and riding the horse, emphasizing the importance of choosing the right (and properly fitting) gear, conditioning the horse, riding lessons, and more. The chapter “When Good Horses Go Bad” offers advice on how to avoid and correct common bad habits, including cribbing, weaving, wood chewing, irritability, biting, kicking, bucking, rearing, and bolting. Appendix of useful addresses and glossary included.

Recently updated and extended, Trail Riding joins the experience and enthusiasm of equestrian Micaela Myers with the wisdom of Horse Illustrated to bring this definitive guide to beginning trail riders. The book covers the fundamentals of America’s #1 equestrian pasttime—from picking out the right gear and training your horse for the trail to planning your jaunt and learning proper trail manners. Complete with step-by-step instructions, countless tips, full-color photos, and an easy-to-use glossary, this guide takes the guesswork out of trail riding.

Ginger Kathrens continues the saga of the wild horses of the Arrowheads in Cloud’s Legacy, a companion volume to PBS’s NATURE program. An award-winning wildlife documentary filmmaker, Kathryns is passionate about the plight of wild horses in North America, and it is with great joy that she watches the cast of Cloud’s Legacy run and interact freely on America’s wide open spaces. Her great story-telling abilities are beautifully enhanced by the exciting color photography that adorns each chapter of this handsome volume. The cast of characters in this saga has expanded beyond the first Cloud documentary to include over thirty different horses (all of which are listed in the appendix of the book). The story is told in 22 engaging chapters that follow Cloud and his growing family through their real-life adventures in the Rocky Mountains. Kathrens’s documentaries about Cloud, his cohorts, and family won the CINE Golden Eagle Awards, Chicago International Television Competition, U.S. International Film and Video Festival, and the WorldFest Houston International Film Festival.

In Turtles & Tortoises beginning hobbyists of all ages will find amazing facts and useful information about turtles and tortoises from around the world. Author Russ Case, a noted author and reptile and amphibian specialist, recommends the top twelve turtles and tortoises that are best for first-time keepers, not counting, of course, the familiar box turtle. From the smaller examples, like the mud turtle that grows only 5 inches, to the Galapagos giant tortoise, which can weigh over 700 pounds, Turtles & Tortoises opens up the whole captivating world of chelonians to the reader. This color guide covers the origins of these fascinating creatures as well as the health, feeding, housing, and care of these fascinating creatures.

An easy-to-read primer for horse selection, care, and training ideal for readers of all ages, Your Happy Healthy Horse covers every topic a new or potential horse owner will need to become his or her horse’s best friend. Author Lesley Ward, an accomplished horse trainer and the editor of Young Rider magazine, has provided an excellent starting point for beginners who are ready to purchase their first horse and take on the responsibility of husbandry and training.The selection of the most appropriate horse for an individual is key to the new owner’s having a great time with his or her horse, and the opening chapter “Finding the Right Horse” discusses all of the necessary considerations (personality, mare or gelding, breed, size, etc.). Acclimating the new horse to a barn and field, possibly with other horses, is the subject of “Footloose in the Field.” This chapter discusses field requirements such as fencing, water, and shelter and the everyday and monthly tasks of a horse owner. Health is an important consideration for all keepers, and the chapter “Staying Healthy” addresses recognizing a sick horse, first aid, veterinary care, parasites, tooth care, hoof care, and grooming. There is an excellent section on therapies that owners may be interested in exploring, from chiropractics and massage to basic stretches and tail whirls. In the chapter on feeding, the author offers ten essential rules that effectively serve as feeding guidelines for companion horses. She also discusses types of feed and supplements as well as the how to maintain the horse at a healthy weight.There are three chapters devoted to training and riding the horse, emphasizing the importance of choosing the right (and properly fitting) gear, conditioning the horse, riding lessons, and more. The chapter “When Good Horses Go Bad” offers advice on how to avoid and correct common bad habits, including cribbing, weaving, wood chewing, irritability, biting, kicking, bucking, rearing, and bolting. Appendix of useful addresses and glossary included.