About this item
Horses have played a central role in human societies for millennia, and this magnificently written and beautifully illustrated volume celebrates that long, eventful history. It pays homage not only to the physical splendor of the horse--its grace, beauty, strength, and adaptability--but also to its remarkable diversity. Equestrian specialist Tamsin Pickeral traces the evolution of many different horse breeds from the dawn of written history to the present day. Separate chapters are devoted to-- The Ancient World-- the nomadic horse peoples of the Eurasian steppes, the Gotland Pony, used by the Goths as chariot horses, the Camargue, an ancient working breed that was taken into Spain by the Romans, and many more From the East-- Mongolian stocks, the influence of Ghengis Khan, the introduction of polo, the spread of the Arabian horse breed, and more The War Horse-- the rise of the heavy cavalry horse, Charles Martel and the influence of the Crusades on horse breeding, the Spanish and Portuguese originators of horse-riding cowboys, the horse in the Napoleonic wars, and more The New World-- the horse's arrival in South America, brought in by the Spanish, and the subsequent development of American breeds Racing Hunting and Sports Horses-- Racing thoroughbreds, Irish hunters, Holsteins, Australian breeds, and more Harness Horses, Carriage Driving, and Trotting-- the development of horses mainly used today for show and skill work, and German Oldenburg carriage horses, now widely used in riding competitions Agriculture and Industry-- The transformation of war horses into widely varied breeds that were developed for working the land, working in mines, serving as police horses, and more Magnificent color photos by distinguished equine photographer Astrid Harrisson are complemented with reproductions of equine artworks from around the world--a total of 400 beautiful illustrations.
About the Author
Tamsin Pickeral was born in England a frightening amount of years ago. She is the daughter of a veterinary surgeon and an artist/art teacher. Art and animals have remained a defining influence on the author, who specialises in books on both subjects. Alongside her own books she has also been a major contributor to a number of multi-author art reference publications and exhibition catalogues. Her books are published internationally, and have been widely reviewed in leading newspapers and magazines.
Her academic training revolved around the arts, first with a period of time spent studying in Italy, before finishing her degree in history of art and architecture at Reading University.
Having learnt to ride (or at least stay on) at a young age on a belligerent ex-racing donkey, the author later moved on to competitive riding, eventing and showjumping with some success, and horses continue to play an important role in her life.
She wrote her first book (The Encyclopedia of Horses and Ponies, 1999) in the United States where she lived for eight years, much of it spent on a remote cattle ranch. During this period she continued her work with horses as well as being a veterinary nurse, while building her writing career. Following her move back to the UK, the author was able to devote herself full time to her profession.
Tamsin currently has a number of projects underway and is working extensively with several contemporary artists including leading figurative painter Chris Gollon, the subject of her latest book, Chris Gollon: Humanity in Art, published May 2010.
She has just been signed to write a major new study of the horse, reviewing 90 different breeds and examining their role in different cultures across the world. The book, which will be illustrated with photographs by award winning photographer Gary Coulson, has already been bought by publishing houses in Australia, North America and across Europe. Due for publication 2011.
For more information please visit www.tamsinpickeral.com
