Horses of the World is a comprehensive, large-format overview of 570 breeds of domestic and extant wild horses, including hybrids between the two and between domestic breeds and other equids, such as zebras. This beautifully illustrated and detailed guide covers the origins of modern horses, anatomy and physiology, variation in breeds, and modern equestrian practices. The treatment of breeds is organized by country within broader geographical regions – from Eurasia through Australasia and to the Americas. Each account provides measurements (weight and height), distribution, origins and history, character and attributes, uses, and current status. Every breed is accompanied by superb colour drawings – 600 in total – and colour photographs can be found throughout Horses of the World.
Describing and depicting every horse breed in existence, Horses of the World will be treasured by all who are interested in these gorgeous animals.
Introduction 8
Horses of the World 8
How to Identify a Breed of Horse 10
Identity Card 19
The Domestication of the Horse and the Main Equestrian Disciplines 21
How to Use This Book 23
Other Equines of the World 25
Extinct Horses 26
Wild Horses 26
Hybrids 28
Horses of Northern Europe 31
Iceland (1) 32
United Kingdom (23) 34
Ireland (5) 56
Norway (3) 60
Denmark (8) 64
Sweden (6) 70
Finland (2) 76
Horses of Southern Europe 79
Portugal (4) 80
Spain (19) 84
Italy (24) 102
Slovenia (2) 124
Croatia (2) 126
Bosnia and Herzegovina (1) 128
Serbia (1) 128
Albania (1) 129
Greece (9) 130
Horses of Western Europe 137
France (24) 138
Belgium (6) 162
Luxembourg (1) 168
Netherlands (6) 168
Germany (32) 176
Switzerland (3) 202
Austria (4) 204
Horses of Eastern Europe and Russia 209
Estonia (3) 210
Latvia (1) 212
Lithuania (3) 214
Poland (8) 216
Belarus (2) 224
Czech Republic (6) 226
Slovakia (2) 230
Hungary (9) 232
Romania (6) 242
Bulgaria (3) 246
Moldava (1) 248
Ukraine (2) 250
Georgia (3) 252
Russia (33) 254
Horses of the Middle East 279
Turkey (10) 280
Syria (1) 288
Israel 288
Saudi Arabia (1) 290
Azerbaijan (4) 292
Iran (6) 296
Horses of Central Asia 301
Turkmenistan (2) 302
Uzbekistan (1) 304
Kyrgyzstan (2) 304
Tajikistan (2) 306
Afghanistan (1) 308
Kazakhstan (4) 310
Mongolia (2) 314
Horses of the Indian Subcontinent 319
Pakistan (7) 320
India (8) 324
Sri Lanka (1) 330
Nepal (2) 332
Bhutan (3) 332
Bangladesh (1) 334
Horses of the Far East and Southeast Asia 337
China (39) 338
Myanmar (2) 362
Thailand (1) 364
Laos (1) 365
Vietnam (2) 366
Cambodia (1) 367
South Korea (1) 368
Japan (9) 370
Philippines (1) 378
Malaysia (2) 380
Indonesia (13) 382
Horses of North Africa 391
Morocco, Algeria (2) 392
Tunisia (1) 394
Egypt (1) 396
Horses of West Africa 399
Senegal (4) 400
Niger (1) 402
Togo and Benin (1) 402
Nigeria (1) 403
Cameroon (2) 404
Horses of East Africa 407
Sudan (2) 408
Ethiopia (1) 410
Somalia (1) 410
Horses of Southern Africa 413
Namibia (1) 414
South Africa (6) 414
Lesotho (1) 420
Horses of North America 423
Canada (8) 424
Saint Pierre and Miquelon (1) 430
United States (47) 432
Horses of Central America and the Caribbean 479
Bahamas (1) 480
Cuba (4) 480
Puerto Rico (1) 484
Mexico (3) 484
Costa Rica (1) 488
Horses of South America 491
Colombia (3) 492
Venezuela (1) 494
Brazil (14) 496
Peru (2) 504
Bolivia (1) 506
Chile (2) 506
Argentina (6) 508
Horses of Oceania 515
Australia (6) 516
New Zealand (1) 522
Solomon Islands 522
Tonga 522
French Polynesia (1) 524
Conclusion 526
Acknowledgments and Photograph Credits 527
Bibliographic Sources 528
Index of Horse Names 531
Some Extinct Breeds 536
Élise Rousseau is a freelance writer and author of a number of adult and children's books on horses. She is an avid equestrian and has traveled all over the world to document rare breeds. Yann Le Bris has been a professional artist for eighteen years and has illustrated numerous books.
"This comprehensive and beautiful book will appeal to all those with a passion for horses. Élise Rousseau deserves kudos for undertaking this monumental work."
– Octavia J. Brown, Centenary University