Poised for Greatness

What makes a horse great? Is it breeding? Is it training? According to the song from the TV show Mr. Ed, "A horse is a horse of course of course." Travel with us through time and find out why that's not true. From the Dawn Horse 55 million years ago to the horse of today, this book traces the evolution of the horse from the small, dog-sized, forest dwelling Eohippus to the perfect package of strength, speed, courage and beauty found in the horse of today.

Were the horses of the Sumerians, Cossacks and Mongols just flukes or were they bred for a purpose? What made horses in different parts of the ancient world so different? We will travel from the battlefield to the equestrian schools of the Age of Discovery to find the answers to these questions and many more. Discover why wars were waged and laws were made all because of horses. Eventually purposeful breeding, based on form to function, defined the horse as we know it today.

By the time you reach the end of this remarkable story of the horse, you will know why a horse is not merely "a horse of course of course."