Review of: Busby, D. & Rutland, C. (2019). The ed. The origins of the modern domestic horse are Horse. A Natural History. Brighton: Ivy Press. explored in depth, portraying the tarpan as its an- 224 pages, 225 figures (partly colour), hard cover. cestor and Przewalskis as the sole wild horse spe- ISBN 978-1-78240-565-8. cies still in existence. However, this is now outdat- ed knowledge as has been shown by new research, Helene Benkert published in the last two years. GAUNITZ ET AL (2018) and FAGES ET AL (2019) examined and reviewed This richly illustrated book is a well-presented DNA samples of horses from a variety of periods compendium of the horse, its biology, evolution and regions in order to investigate the genetic ori- and its history with humanity. Clearly structured gin of the modern horse. Their research clearly and organised, it is a compelling account of an shows that Przewalski horses are not the last living exceptional species. Throughout, the authors’ re- species of wild horses previously thought, but in gard and respect for horses is apparent but does fact descendants of some of the earliest domesti- not hinder the scientific narrative. On the contra- cated horses. The Eneolithic site of Botai in modern ry, the positive approach to communication, in Kazakhstan yielded some of the earliest evidence combination with plenty of high-quality photo- of horse husbandry and domestication (OUTRAM graphs and schematics, supports the reader’s in- ET AL., 2009). Genetic analysis of the Botai horses terest and inspires to learn more. shows that they are direct ancestors of Przewalski It is largely written in a straightforward and horses but a minimal component in modern do- adequately flowing language, with a clear sen- mestic horses. This makes Przewalski horses the tence structure. Technical terms are mostly ex- only living descendants of the first domestic hors- plained using the same easy-to-understand and es and as such very much still worthy of conser- approachable way and helped by illustrations and vation. The exact source of the modern domestic infographics. The book is organised into differ- lineage is still the subject of further analyses, but a ent sections and subsections, following a logical variety of tarpan remains a key contender. progression. The first chapter covers evolution While it is understandable that the most recent and the taxonomy of the genus Equus. Chapter 2 of the two studies has not featured in this book explores the anatomical aspects of horses, whilst due to the coinciding publication dates, GAUNITZ chapter 3 explains their complex social organi- ET AL.’S study from 2018 is listed in the bibliogra- sation and behaviour. Finally, the last two chap- phy. That begs the question why the authors have ters are dedicated to the interaction of horses and not related these new discoveries but chose to humans, including an extensive, though by no present the reader with an obsolete scenario that means exhaustive, catalogue of modern breeds. has now come into question. Subsections within chapters are well structured The chapter finishes off on a short note on the and divided into bite-sized blocks of a specific top- impact of horses and horse riding on human socie- ic, usually encompassing 2 to 4 pages. The text is ty that would have profited from more in-depth never overwhelmingly dominant but interspersed information. with illustrations or broken up into separate info- The biological background of both authors be- graphics. This organisation makes it easy to read comes clear in the following chapter. The reader up on a specific topic without having to search for is introduced to equine anatomy in several de- it in long passages of unbroken text. Though brief, tailed sections looking at the different body parts the text sections communicate knowledge concise- in a horse. Most of these sections assume no pri- ly without seeming crammed or overbearing. or knowledge of anatomy in the reader and are After a rather short introduction, the reader therefore easy to understand. Although, on occa- is taken back in time to the very beginning of the sion, the word choice causes confusion that hin- horse’s evolution some 50 to 55 million years ago. ders good communication of the intended subject, The authors acknowledge not only past mistakes and, in one case, the erroneous use of deciduous in evolutionary research but also that further ad- for permanent rather than milk teeth creates mis- vances in technology and techniques will impact understanding. on our current understanding of equine evolution. As part of the equine life cycle, the concept of Though the focus is on horses, the text also maturity is explored. There are two types of matu- delves briefly into the taxonomy of the Equidae rity: sexual and skeletal. Arguably, mental maturi- family and even the wider Perissodactyla order. ty needs to be viewed separately too. Unfortunate- Each of the extant species within the Equid family ly, the authors are not clear on which type they are are described, and differences to horses highlight- referring to when connecting maturity to training. Received: 16 Dec 2019 Archäologische Informationen 42, 2019, 335-339 accepted: 18 Dec 2019 CC BY 4.0 published online: 23 Dec 2019 335 Rezensionen Rezensionen Helene Benkert While some bones will fuse at around 15-18 From social organisation and communication to months, horses do not reach full skeletal maturity modern horse management, this chapter explores until 3 to 4 years. The vertebrae bodies fuse even lat- the behavioural baseline in which all human-horse er at 4-5 years (SILVER, 1969; HABERMEHL, 1975). Fur- interaction is grounded. Based on the natural struc- thermore, some breeds are late bloomers and take ture of horse society, the authors point out issues even longer to mature, both physically and men- in modern horse keeping and management which tally. Since the weight of the rider has severe direct disregard horses’ natural predispositions in favour impact on the spine it is essential that young horses of human needs and wishes. Looking at the horse’s are started with utmost care and, ideally, only after different senses as well as its basic needs, such as the vertebral plates are fully fused. The mental state sleep, food and physical contact with conspeci- of the horse should also be considered before any fics, the book explains how human behaviour in- human intervention. Sexual maturity is unrelated fluences a horse’s mental and physical well-being, to a horse’s readiness to begin work under saddle. which in turn has a huge impact on its behaviour Early in the second chapter, horse types are and performance. In better understanding equine introduced: hot, warm and cold blooded. Despite nature, we will be able adapt horse management the names, these terms do not refer to the blood strategies in a way that is beneficial to both hu- temperature of the horses but their general tem- mans and horses. Creating a pleasant experience perament. These terms are therefore entirely un- for both partners of this interspecies relationship related to climate, contrary to the authors’ claim. is even more crucial in a world where horses are Cold-blooded horses are not from colder northern overwhelmingly used for recreation. areas but were bred for a specific purpose, usually In an excellent section explaining sentience as strong working animals, as were all other types and emotions in horses, the authors explore the and breeds of domestic horse. Hot-blooded horses aspects of learning and interspecies communica- on the other hand were bred for speed and endur- tion even further. While no one who has handled ance. Warmbloods, most commonly used in the horses could doubt that they have individual per- plentiful areas of equestrian sport, are of moder- sonalities and experience emotions very similar ate temperament somewhere in between the other to humans, it is nonetheless an important subject two. Additionally, there are half-breeds that are that needs further research. Perhaps even more the offspring of two horses from different types, important is to implement that research in prac- usually one hot and one warm-blooded. The vast tice and make it accessible to the public, especial- majority of modern sport horse breeds have Ara- ly to those who are handling equids regularly. bian or English Thoroughbred crossed in for re- Chapter 4 picks up on the human-horse rela- finement. Ponies are considered a separate type tionship that was briefly introduced at the end and are not divided based on their temperament. of the very first chapter. Right at the beginning The chapter finishes with a section on genetics of this fourth chapter, the reader is introduced to in extant equid species and applications for genetics “three distinct and primitive types” (p. 112) of hors- in modern horse breeding. It seems partly outdat- es, namely the Asiatic wild horse, the tarpan, and ed as testing for specific coat colours is mentioned a heavier northern European type. A similar con- as a thing of the future when it is common practice cept is described in the next chapter. There, the 3 to test breeding stock for specific genes involved in subtypes are tarpan, domestic horse and the Prze- coat colour inheritance, such as splash (VETERINARY walski, and they are extended by 3 prototypes of GENETIC SERVICES, 2019). The bibliography lists Cas- horses which are warmblood, draft, and oriental. tle’s “The ABC of Colour Inheritance in Horses” from It is true that the tarpan and the horse of the 1948 as the only publication on this topic. Central Asian steppes are two different types of In 2009, Arne Ludwig and colleagues pub- horses.