The Nature of Horses: Exploring Equine Evolution, Intelligence, and Behavior [Hardcover]

Stephen Budiansky (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 8, 1997

Horses have a shared history with man going back millennia to their domestication around 4000 B.C. Yet only in very recent years have scientists begun to turn the tools of modem science on this remarkable animal that has been so wrapped up in human dreams and legends. Now modern scientific research is beginning to explain long-standing mysteries about the true nature of the horse. How well can horses really see? What causes breakdowns in racehorses? How intelligent are they compared to other animals, and are some breeds smarter than others? Does nature or nurture matter more in creating a great sport horse? What causes cribbing and other vices? In this beautifully illustrated, compelling narrative, Budiansky tells the story of the origins, behavior, intelligence and language of the horse.

For the first time, horse lovers will have access to cutting-edge research on topics of interest including new information on horse vision, horse biology and movement. Introducing the latest archeological findings, Budiansky presents a fascinating discussion of how the horse evolved as well as a dramatic and provocative history of man's use and abuse of the horse from prehistoric times to today. In a revealing chapter on horse intelligence, he debunks the commonly held belief that horses are stupid and also presents compelling new scientific information on horse language which will greatly benefit the horse rider and trainer. Finally, drawing together the latest research on horse physiology, genetics and biomechanics, Budiansky asks the million dollar question -- what makes for a winning racehorse? Anyone who loves horses will find this an invaluable resource as well as a fascinating read.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Horse riders, trainers, and others who spend their daily lives in the company of horses will appreciate this in-depth study of equine behavior and its origins. Science writer Budiansky begins by examining the environment and circumstances to which the horse has adapted throughout its long evolution, presenting evidence that much of the horse's behavior is genetic rather than learned. A full chapter is devoted to the development of the horse's relationship with humans over the centuries, and another outlines a breeding program that could produce a superior performance horse. This book will appeal to professionals and horse fanciers seeking a thorough understanding of horse behavior. For academic equine collections and public libraries where interest warrants.?Deborah Emerson, Monroe Community Coll. Lib., Rochester, N.Y.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

Budiansky, a writer at U.S. News and World Report, may not provide as many ``insights into the true nature of the beast'' as he hopes, but he serves up fascinating historical, behavioral, and biological nuggets about our equine friends. Troubled that our understanding of Equus caballus is badly flawed, Budiansky (Nature's Keepers, 1995) endeavors to set the record straight, clearing the air of ``what millenniums of tradition, love, and wishful thinking have sometimes muddled,'' and telling the horses' story through the ``objective tools of science.'' He starts at the beginning of domestication, 6,000 years ago, with the Sredni Stog people. They, it is surmised, either clambered atop the horse or ate him; their bones are mixed together at archaeological digs in the Ukraine, marking the onset of a long, fruitful association. Horses and humans discovered what they had in common: an intuitive language of dominance and submission, an adaptation to grasslands, a social fabric built on subordination to authority and trust. Budiansky's portrait delves into mitochondrial DNA analysis, the mechanics of movement and eyesight and vocalization, but he's hesitant to guess at the ultimate meaning of this data. He is less edifying but far more entertaining when he occasionally hazards subjective rather than scientific information, as in his observation of the horse's ability to interpret subtle social cues shared with humans (dispelling notions of horses as mind readers) or when he simply throws out an idea he has concerning their fabled homing instinct. And he's incisive when describing the curious world of the stud book and the ambiguous effects of inbreeding. As a science journalist, Budiansky brings together a wealth of equine research; as the devoted horseman he is, he knows there is more than the objective interface, and that magic is a persistent part of the equation. (70 drawings and photos) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: The Free Press; First Edition edition (April 8, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684827689
• ISBN-13: 978-0684827681
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #346,132 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Stephen Budiansky is a writer, historian, and journalist, the author of 14 books about military and intelligence history, science, and the natural world. He is a former editor and writer at U.S. News & World Report and The Atlantic and the former Washington Editor of the scientific journal Nature. He lives on a small farm in northern Virginia.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An eye-opener even for horse enthusiasts, October 27, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Nature of Horses: Exploring Equine Evolution, Intelligence, and Behavior (Hardcover)

This was an excellent recommendation by a horse-lover friend. Budiansky manages to give the horse-lover (or even a non-horsey person) a wonderfully new and broader understanding of horses. As the subtitle reads: "Exploring Equine Evolution, Intelligence and Behavior", that is exactly what the book does. The first 15 pages alone were an eye-opener for me, a seasoned horse-lover. This is the kind of book, where one keeps saying: "I never thought about that, but it makes a lot of sense!". Budiansky's writing style is down-to-earth and he never professes to be a complete expert. He emphasizes that his experiences and knowledge come from being a horse-lover and owner of horses and not as a professional researcher or scientist. This approach and clear understanding of his own limitations makes this book special. Complex evolutionary theory, genetic concepts and medical topics are covered with ease, using simple language. The use of simple diagrams and pictures enhance Budiansky's descriptions and explanations. The book uses a wonderful progression from the evolution of the horse to the future of the horse as its guide, covering a vast array of topics in merely 280 pages. But one does not get the feeling of brevity or over-simplification. Each topic is covered with equal enthusiasm and sincerity. Because of his own fondness for horses, Budiansky allows space to give advice. Conclusions are voiced when appropriate, but they are understated, allowing the reader to make their own conclusions. Budiansky sources from a wide range of areas, scientists, trainers, philosophers, historians, thus covering almost every and any area a horse enthusiast (of any kind or type) would find interest in. This was an eye-opening book, complimented with a beautiful cover. It should be a fundamental read for anyone even vaguely interested in horses.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent addition to any horse lovers bookshelf, April 5, 2005

By 

Vivien Dostine "Viv" (Auckland New Zealand) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Nature of Horses: Exploring Equine Evolution, Intelligence, and Behavior (Hardcover)

My only regret about this book is that it is too short! The author writes in a way that is both informative and easy to read, pulling together many resources to attempt to provide a comprehensive and objective look at the horse, its evolution and relationship with humans.

I particularly enjoyed the sections on the horse's domestication and horse genetics. The discussion of the way in which horse breeds have been brought into existence and the various motivations for breeders to proceed with closed studbooks, while espousing the notion that they are breeding a horse suitable for a particular purpose.

But there is much more. The story of the horse is expanded with explainations of anatomy and physiology and how these have affected the horse's evolution and interactions with man. How a horse's digestive system affects its size, ability to prosper on poor grazing and performance for instance, or why the absolute speed of horses, and indeed other quadrupeds, is determined by their physiology.

I enjoyed this thoroughly and intend to not only read it all again but check out many of the references provided on some of the topics.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!!!, May 29, 2003

By 

David (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Nature of Horses: Exploring Equine Evolution, Intelligence, and Behavior (Hardcover)

As a rider, trainer, and avid reader of equine literature, I can say assuredly that this is a "must read" for anyone serious about truly understanding why horses behave the way they do. It debunks many of the long standing myths that are so oft repeated in the horse world. Budiansky also gives us some history behind the human-horse relationship. Enjoyable to read, and has added to the relationship I have with my horses.