The Noble Horse

There are few creatures in the animal kingdom quite as magnificent as the horse, an animal that has spent thousands of years carrying humanity into battle, transporting its possessions, ploughing its fields and occasionally depositing its supposedly superior rider into a muddy ditch. For all its elegance, intelligence and extraordinary athletic ability, the horse has endured a remarkably long association with human beings, which must occasionally have seemed a questionable career decision.

In The Noble Horse (1988), Monique and Hans D. Dossenbach celebrate the beauty, character and remarkable diversity of one of civilisation’s most enduring animal companions. Published by Bateman, this illustrated volume offers an affectionate exploration of the equine world, capturing the grace, strength and individuality of horses in all their splendid variety.

From powerful working breeds capable of hauling enormous loads to elegant riding horses whose every movement seems designed to inspire admiration, the horse has occupied a unique position in human history. It has served kings, soldiers, farmers, explorers and sporting enthusiasts, often displaying considerably more patience and common sense than the people sitting on its back.

The Dossenbachs’ appreciation of the horse reflects both its physical magnificence and its extraordinary relationship with humanity. Horses have inspired artists, poets and military commanders for centuries, although their contributions to agricultural productivity and the delivery of unpleasant messages during wartime have perhaps received rather less romantic attention.

Long before the invention of the motor car, the horse represented speed, freedom, prestige and personal mobility. Owning an impressive horse was once the equivalent of arriving in an expensive sports car, except that the horse required feeding even when parked, occasionally developed opinions about the intended destination and produced its own exhaust emissions in a particularly inconvenient form.

Through its celebration of equine beauty and variety, this book offers an opportunity to appreciate an animal whose influence extends far beyond riding schools and racing courses. The horse helped shape human settlement, warfare, commerce and recreation, earning its reputation for nobility through centuries of service, athletic achievement and an apparently inexhaustible tolerance for human eccentricity.

Of course, the horse’s greatest triumph may be that, despite the invention of tractors, automobiles and aircraft, people continue to devote extraordinary amounts of money, time and affection to owning one. Few supposedly obsolete forms of transport have maintained such a loyal following.

Condition: Good. This is a previously owned copy dating from 1988, displaying ordinary signs of age and handling. It remains a perfectly respectable addition to the bookshelf and, unlike its four-legged subjects, requires neither stabling, veterinary attention nor an alarmingly expensive supply of hay.

Published by Bateman in 1988. ISBN: 0908610556.

Offered by Crappy Old Books, where we appreciate noble creatures, fine photography and the considerable economic advantages of collecting books about horses rather than actual horses.

A delightful addition to any collection of equestrian literature, animal photography or natural history. Particularly recommended for horse lovers, riders and anyone who appreciates the extraordinary beauty of an animal that managed to become a symbol of freedom while spending much of its working life being told exactly where to go.

Keep browsing: See more Animals books Other books by Monique and Hans D Dossenbach