Horse and Man in Early Modern England Author:Peter Edwards When Shakespeare has Richard III cry 'A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse', the king has a particularly pressing need for one. In fact, the livelihood (if not the life) of many people in early modern England depended upon the services of a horse. They used them as draught animals on the farm and on the road, and employed them to power machi... more »nery. They also rode on them or traveled in style in horse-drawn coaches. Moreover, horses, alone among domesticated animals (with the possible exception of hounds) were valued for more than their utilitarian functions. They had an iconic status among the upper classes, projecting images of wealth, power and authority. A man on horseback could literally, as well as metaphorically, look down on a passer-by on foot. The elite rode on horseback when participating in some of the most popular recreational activities; hunting, hawking and jousting; pursuits which they claimed prepared the horses for battle. In addition, horses were essential to armies, both as cavalry and for the artillery and baggage trains. Humans highly valued their horses and reckoned them to be one of the noblest of creatures. Even so, when their working life was over and when they had lost their useful vigor and appearance, they were generally cast aside without ceremony, fit only for the knackers or as dog meat. In this well-written, thoroughly researched and fascinating account, Peter Edwards takes us through every aspect of the horse in pre-industrial England: how they were bred and trained, what they ate, how much they were worth, how long they lived and what jobs they did. Peter Edwards also gives an appraisal of the special relationship between horse and man.« less