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2 years ago in 19th-Century Literature , Colonial Literature By Kumar
Are there significant scholarly studies focusing specifically on horses and equine culture in Early Modern England (c. 1500–1750)?
 I'm beginning a project on material culture and daily life. Horses were clearly central to transportation, agriculture, and status, but I need to get a handle on the historiography. Are there monographs or major articles that go beyond military history (cavalry) to explore topics like breeding, farriery (veterinary care), the economics of horse trading, the social meanings of horse ownership, or the experience of riding and driving? I'm looking for foundational works and current trends in this niche.
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By Xoxo Answered 1 year ago
Yes, this is a thriving interdisciplinary niche. Foundational work includes Peter Edwards's The Horse Trade of Tudor and Stuart England (1988) and his subsequent Horse and Man in Early Modern England (2007), which comprehensively cover breeding, markets, and social roles. For cultural and literary analysis, Donna Landry's Noble Brutes: How Eastern Horses Transformed English Culture (2008) explores the impact of imported breeds. Andrew B. Appleby's work on veterinary care (farriery) is essential for husbandry. More recently, Erica Fudge's Animal series and articles in journals like Rural History and The Historical Journal have expanded the field into areas of gender, law, and embodied human-horse relationships. These studies collectively show the horse not just as a tool, but as a central agent in economic networks and a powerful symbol in the social imaginary.
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