The Noble Horse: Facts and breed information on our equine friends

Fern Collins

There are over 300 different breeds of horse in the world today and they are used for a variety of specific needs. Herd animals by nature, horses work spectacularly well in large groups and communicate through body language with humans as well as one another. Large and regal, the horse is a striking display of strength and a supple example of beauty. These two properties are derived from the strong fight-or-flight instinct etched in horses' DNA. The combination can only be called noble.

For centuries, society could not have functioned without the horse. Not only were they used for transportation, but they were also working animals, used on farms for agriculture, in mines for resources, and on the battlefield for war. This diversity of needs led to the development of many types of horses throughout the world. Difference in climate and geography also played their part in forming of the breeds. Later, the popularity of equestrian sports honed many of our modern breeds into quite different creatures from their older counterparts. Look further into this fascinating book to discover all that is interesting about horses, including breeds, poetry, quotes, and other bits of trivia about our equine friends.