A compassionate, insightful guide to humanity’s relationship with the horse, with evidence-based training tips.

Weaving together science, history and fiction, Equine traces our bond with the horse across 6000 years of co-existence. It takes the reader on a journey of discovery, from the evolutionary beginnings of Eohippus, the Dawn Horse, through to the domestication of horses, their use during wartime, and their place in our lives today.

The book opens with a detailed look at the evolution of the horse, with fascinating insight into how particular characteristics and traits evolved to become today’s modern animal: fast, vigilant, and with a strong herd instinct. The horse’s brain, senses and abilities are all fully explored.

In the book’s second half, the author turns her considerable expertise to how the horse learns, and helps readers understand proven, effective and compassionate training methods for the animals they work with.

Through her focus on welfare, and by making accessible the sometimes complex science of ethology and training, experienced trainer and author Portland Jones entices readers to share the awe and wonder she experiences at the horse’s side.

Equine is for anyone who works with horses, rides them, or simply admires this most beautiful of creatures.

Portland Jones is a writer, horse trainer and lecturer who lives and works in Western Australia’s Swan Valley. She has a PhD in Literature and her first novel was short-listed for the TAG Hungerford Award. Her second novel was short-listed for the richest genre-based literary award in Australasia, the ARA Historical Novel Prize. She also writes articles for the equestrian press.

Portland has over 30 years’ experience as a horse trainer. She has a strong focus on welfare and teaches an evidence-based training strategy. She also teaches equine behaviour at Murdoch University.

Portland is also a trainer for The Help Foundation, a charity working with captive populations of endangered Asian elephants to ensure their ongoing welfare.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

Part 1: Letting go of anthroporphism
The Dawn Horse
1. The ancient horse
Ancient man
2. The domesticated horse
Ezio
3. The important horse
Wilhelm
4. The modern horse
Ted
5. The conscious horse

Part 2: Ways of learning
Sarah
6. Operant conditioning
7. Classical conditioning
8. Habituation, shaping and welfare
Arkady

Epilogue
References
Acknowledgments
Index