A passion is fed by knowledge. Phyllisjo (P.J.) Haduch Dempsey, a Mt. Washington native now of New York City, found that to be so. After learning a great deal about her passion - horses - she and well-informed Sarah Montague set it down in 22 chapters of a book to share with other horse lovers.
The 332-page book, "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Horses" (Alpha, $14.95) is part of The Complete Idiot's Guide series, but the authors disclaim the thought that their readers are idiots. The chatty, witty style in which these two horsewomen trace the history, evolution and uses of horses during their 60 million years of existence makes the book a breeze to read. No matter what you want to know about a horse, it's here.
"I always wanted to know how to ride a horse," said Dempsey, who is a senior book editor with M. Evans & Co. in New York City. "I was one of those horse-crazy little girls with shelves full of horse statues in my room. (I) read everything I could get my hands on about horses, drew pictures of horses all over the place, etc. Riding horses costs money if you live in the city so, in 1989, we moved part time to the Pocono Mountains, 90 miles west, and I fulfilled a lifelong dream."
Her husband, Michael Dempsey, who helped her realize her dream, specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation in a Greenwich Village office. The book is dedicated to him.
Dempsey broke her leg when her first horse threw her, but she had the gumption to try again. She trail rides and competes in shows on her second horse, LH Endless Luv, a three-fourths Arabian pinto mare that she has owned for 10 years.
The book has tips on how to handle horses, what to avoid and how to choose a school or trainer. Even though you can't learn to ride a horse from a book, its basic information is a guide. It gives essential information on the proper way to mount a horse, sit in the saddle and handle the reins. For those who do not find riding feasible, the book, with its photos and drawings, offers vicarious pleasure and a conversational knowledge of horses.
Diagrams of horse anatomy are featured, and drawings illustrate the acceptable way to sit when show jumping as well as the various pieces of tack and their uses. The reader can see how a horse's teeth grow and what constitutes its healthy diet.
Every hobby has its jargon, and this book includes a glossary of terms heard in the horse world. A list of contents makes it easy to skip around the book to find subjects of special interest. Each chapter ends with "The Least You Need to Know," a brief summary of subjects covered in that chapter. The book is a handy reference for those in a hurry, or as a refresher for those who just want to learn the basics.
The writers describe the process of shoeing a horse and suggest that an interesting afternoon be spent watching a farrier complete the task. Information is provided on approaching, grooming and bathing horses. The book offers practical advice on buying a horse, including cost and maintenance.
The book offers information about special riding programs designed for those with disabilities and gives the history of some of those programs. The therapeutic riding movement began after a woman with polio won a silver medal in the 1952 Olympic games. This inspired a Norwegian therapist to establish a program for children with disabilities. In 1969, the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association was founded.
Short, illustrated sidebars slip in tidbits of information. For example: "In 1954, it finally happened - farmers owned more tractors than horses. But today, history is repeating itself as the working horse again returns to the farm."
In early days, horses were a symbol of wealth and status, used by aristocrats for polo playing, hunting and racing. Racing became the leading sport in the United States in 1875 with the first Kentucky Derby. Since the 1950s, economic change has allowed more people to ride.
"Horses" is available in bookstores. It's co-author, Montague, has also written another book, "Riding in Prime Time: A Resource for Adult Riders." It was edited by Dempsey and published by M. Evans & Co.
Dempsey, the daughter of Phyllis Haduch of Mt. Washington, trail rides, shows her mare in Western pleasure classes and volunteers for equestrian events.
A graduate of South Hills High School, Dempsey said she studied journalism at Point Park College in Pittsburgh and continued her studies at the University of Pittsburgh, the New School and New York University.
She left for New York in 1973, and worked for Penguin Books (now Penguin Putnam), McGraw-Hill, Simon & Schuster, Wiley, and the Crown imprint of Random House before joining M. Evans & Co., where she edits nonfiction books. Her clients have included Steve Allen and Soupy Sales.
Virginia Peden is a Pittsburgh freelance writer for the Tribune-Review.
