Horses Through Time

The book examines in laymen's terms the development of the lineage of horses through the paleontological record, the domestication of horses based on the archaeological record, the history of the interplay between humans and horses, the lively history of equestrian sports, and advances in equine veterinary medicine.

Editor Olsen has corralled experts on horses, ranging from a paleontologist discussing fossil evidence going back 50 million years to a veterinarian reporting on the status of equine medicine to a biogeographer recounting the imperiled state of relatives of the horse, such as burros and zebras. Olsen has gathered 10 scholars in all, and together they build detail into a general-interest presentation. The question of how the horse was domesticated, for example, intrigues any person interested in animals or in the origins of civilization; another chapter continues the thread and describes the various draft and riding breeds; and another tells which riding breeds have enabled equestrian sports (not to mention warfare). Following each subject, a list of relevant books points readers to more detailed works. Photos and drawings buttress this capable introduction. Gilbert Taylor

Edited by the associate curator of anthropology at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, this unique collection of essays presents new research by some of the world's foremost authorities on horses. Each chapter is written by an expert in its subject, and these topics range from the physical development of the horse and its various breeds to the history of equestrian sports and the latest advances in equine veterinary medicine. The essays are not limited to a discussion of the horse itself but explore the evolving relationships between horses and humans, including the process of domestication. The piece on equine veterinary medicine is particularly interesting as current trends in this field closely parallel human practices. Each chapter is accompanied by a reading list and illustrated with color photographs. Written in lay readers' terms, the essays are both educational and entertaining and should have broad appeal. Many libraries will have books on many of these topics, but this volume presents some new material and is readable and appealing. Recommended.?Deborah Emerson, Monroe Community Coll. Lib., Rochester, N.Y.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.