The nature of horses : exploring equine evolution, intelligence, and behavior
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 modern 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
xiii, 290 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 24 cm
9780684827681, 9781451697568, 0684827689, 1451697562
35723713
Foreword / Franklin M. Loew
Ch. 1. The Improbability of the Horse
Ch. 2. From the Brink of Oblivion
Ch. 3. Equine Nature, Human Nature
Ch. 4. Socioecology
Ch. 6. Seeing and Perceiving
Ch. 6. Horse Talk
Ch. 7. Horse Sense
Ch. 8. The Mechanics of Movement
Ch. 9. Assume a Spherical Horse
Ch. 10. Nature or Nurture?
Conclusion: The Fate of the Horse