A comprehensive, richly illustrated introduction to the fascinating
natural history of the horse, from prehistory to the present
There are countless books about keeping and riding horses. The Horse
is different: it looks not only at the natural history of the horse in
the context of its use by humans, but also at its own, independent
story, describing the way horses live, think, and behave both alongside
people and on their own. Beautifully designed and illustrated, The
Horse provides an engaging and accessible introduction to these beloved
animals.
Beginning with evolution and development, The Horse tells how horses
came into being more than fifty million years ago and were first
domesticated more than five thousand years ago, eventually spreading
across the globe. Chapters on Anatomy & Biology and Society & Behavior
explain equine anatomy and how it has affected the lives and social
structure of horses, and outline current scientific thinking on their
behavior as individual and herd animals, including information on
communication between horses. A chapter on Horses & People provides a
thorough overview of the horse's many important roles in human history
and today, from pack animal to sporting champion. Finally, the book ends
with an engrossing and visually stunning photographic gallery of some
fifty popular breeds of horses and ponies with essential information
about each.
Filled with surprising facts and insights, this book will delight anyone
who loves horses and wants to understand them better.
- Provides a comprehensive, richly illustrated introduction to the
evolution, development, domestication, and behavior of the horse--from
life cycle, breeding, coats and colors, and the senses to courtship,
parenting, communication, emotions, and learning
- Tells the full story of horses, from their earliest fossil ancestors
to the modern-day Equus
- Offers a detailed survey of how horses and humans have interacted
since horses were domesticated, including their use for work and war
in the past and recreational and competitive riding today
- Features infographics, diagrams, and more than 250 stunning color
photographs
- Includes a beautiful photographic directory to some 50 popular
breeds
