Covering origins and evolution, communication and behavior, physiology and biomechanics, seasoned nature writer and horse owner Stephen Budiansky offers an accessible guide to the centuries-old mysteries and the latest findings about this marvelous creature. Line drawings throughout. 4-page color insert.

THE WILD, FREE-ROAMING HORSE of the U.S. Great Basin has given us a new vision for a vibrant and healthy natural horse. That vision is embodied in this newly updated and classic work, The Natural Horse: Lessons From the Wild.

The first complete reference to help equestrians make the changes needed to ensure social license and the ability to ride and compete horses for years to come. Renowned wild horse ecologist and equine behaviorist Mary Ann Simonds provides a practical soup-to-nuts manual for understanding how horses think, feel, learn, communicate, and interact with each other and with humans. Integrating over 30 years of field research, identifying functional social behaviors in wild horses with her lifelong professional practice working with equestrians solving equine behavioral issues, Simonds helps readers gain a strong foundation into the emotional and cognitive lives of horses and explore various horse-human relationships. She provides numerous tools for assessing personalities, communicating with horses, and understanding how horses learn, with an emphasis on improving care and reducing stress in competitions and sports. In three parts, each introduced by top researchers and scientists in the equestrian field, readers will: LEARN the natural history and social ecology of free-roaming wild horses. UNDERSTAND the instincts, learned behaviors, gender differences, social roles, and social bonds that are the driving factors in horse culture. DISCOVER how adaptable horses really are, and how that makes them an ideal species to share their social lives with humans. FOCUS on horse-human relationships applying the knowledge from Part One to reduce equine stress and improve communication in the management and training of all horses. EXPLORE how to better assess the horse’s personality and emotions, understand his learning style, and use various communication channels to establish trust, improve friendship, and enhance performance. ADDRESS the ethics of horse sports and ask the questions needed to ensure horse welfare in all the disciplines. CONSIDER dozens of changes related to horse management and competition recommended by respected industry professionals. BE EMPOWERED to be an influencer to improve the lives of horses, whatever the profession, breed, or sport. Filled with hundreds of color-coded tips and beautiful photos, and backed by science, personal stories, and unique insights, readers have multiple ways to quickly find useful information and apply it to their own horse-human situations. Whether preparing for a horse show, working with young stock, riding on the trails, adopting a wild horse, running a rescue, or just hoping to improve your communication and relationships with all horses, this book is a catalyst for much-needed change in the equine industry.

Paddock Paradise is a revolutionary model for safe, natural horse keeping, hoof care, and the healing and rehabilitation of lame horses. The premise of Paddock Paradise is to stimulate horses to behave and move naturally according to their instincts.

"Describes how domestic horses can be made happier and healthier through an understanding of what nature intended for the horse." --Cover.

The horse- and rider-training handbook of an internationally renowned master horseman.

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