I Love Horses; You Can Ride a Horse

In the wake of last year's lovely Black Beauty (Warner Home Video, $24.95), interest in all things equestrian is running at a brisk canter. I Love Horses shows horses running, period. Although there are a few video special effects, and a brief clip of a girl grooming a horse, the non-narrated tape (with an uninspired selection of instrumental tracks) is little more than assembled horse footage. Ages 2-6. A much better choice here is Horses: Close Up and Very Personal (VL-1/95). Not recommended.Although the title You Can Ride a Horse suggests that children will learn to ride a horse, this is more of an entertainment than instructional video. Combining songs, interviews with young horse riders, and clips of kids riding horses, the program covers horse anatomy, grooming, washing, and shoeing, and throws in a few basic instructions for getting on, starting, and turning a horse. The most exciting segment is a section on vaulting where three young girls display impressive acrobatic skills singly and as a team on the horse. While there's more padding than purpose to some of the footage (not to mention the repeated theme song), You Can a Ride a Horse is a solid half-hour of fun for ages 3-8 at an exceptionally low price. Recommended. (R. Pitman)