The Horse: A Natural History

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
"1129592771"
The Horse: A Natural History

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
22.49 In Stock
The Horse: A Natural History

The Horse: A Natural History

The Horse: A Natural History

The Horse: A Natural History

eBook

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Overview

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

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780691193731
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Publication date: 07/16/2019
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 224
File size: 46 MB
Note: This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Debbie Busby is an equine behaviorist with degrees in applied animal behavior and welfare and psychology. She is certified by the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants and runs the website Evolution Equine. Catrin Rutland is associate professor of anatomy and developmental genetics at the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nottingham, UK. She writes about science for a number of leading UK newspapers and magazines, including the Telegraph and the Guardian.

Table of Contents

Introducing the Horse 6

Chapter 1 Evolution & Development

Ancestors of the Modern Horse 14

Related Species & Distant Cousins 18

Equus ferus 24

Conquering the Globe 28

Chapter 2 Anatomy & Biology

The Horse as a Mammal 32

The Life Cycle of the Horse 33

Breeding 36

Crossbreeding & Hybrids 40

The Mechanics of Breeding 42

Anatomy of a Horse 46

The Skeleton & Body 48

The Skull, Teeth & Jaw 52

Eating & the Digestive System 56

Systems & Senses 58

How the Hoof Developed 64

Goat & Color 66

Equine Disease & Illness 70

The Horse Genome 73

Chapter 3 Society & Behavior

Courtship & Mating 78

Parenting 80

Foals & Early Life 82

Social Groups & Behavior 86

Eating & Sleeping 90

Horse-Horse Communication 94

Vocalization 98

Horse Cognition 100

The Horse's Memory 102

The Emotional Horse 104

How Horses Learn 106

Wild Versus Domesticated Horses 108

Chapter 4 Horses & People

Early Relations 112

The First Herders 114

Many Uses: Early Horses 118

Riding Horses: The Story of Tack 122

The History of Training 126

The War-Horse 132

The Sporting Horse 136

Centers of Breeding Worldwide 140

Horses for Profit 146

Ethology & Ethics 152

Chapter 5 A Directory of Horses Breeds

Historic Breeds 158

From Historic to Modern Breeds 162

Appendices

Bibliography 218

Index 221

Author Biographies 223

Acknowledgments & Picture Credits 224

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