From New York Times bestselling author of The Mosquito, the incredible story of how the horse shaped human history

Timothy C. Winegard’s The Horse is an epic history unlike any other. Its story begins more than 5,500 years ago on the windswept grasslands of the Eurasian Steppe; when one human tamed one horse, an unbreakable bond was forged and the future of humanity was instantly rewritten, placing the reins of destiny firmly in human hands.

Since that pivotal day, the horse has carried the history of civilizations on its powerful back. For millennia it was the primary mode of transportation, an essential farming machine, a steadfast companion, and a formidable weapon of war. Possessing a unique combination of size, speed, strength, and stamina, the horse dominated every facet of human life and shaped the very scope of human ambition. And we still live among its galloping shadows.

Horses revolutionized the way we hunted, traded, traveled, farmed, fought, worshipped, and interacted. They fundamentally reshaped the human genome and the world’s linguistic map. They determined international borders, molded cultures, fueled economies, and built global superpowers. They decided the destinies of conquerors and empires. And they were vectors of lethal disease and contributed to lifesaving medical innovations. Horses even inspired architecture, invention, furniture, and fashion. From the thundering cavalry charges of Alexander the Great to the streets of New York during the Great Manure Crisis of 1894 and beyond, horses have shaped both the grand arc of history and our everyday lives.

Driven by fascinating revelations and fast-paced storytelling, The Horse is a riveting narrative of this noble animal’s unrivaled and enduring reign across human history. To know the horse is to understand the world.

Timothy C. Winegard served nine years as an officer in the Canadian Forces, including a two-year attachment to the British Army. He is the author of Oka: A Convergence of Cultures and the Canadian Forces and Indigenous Peoples of the British Dominions and the First World War. He teaches at Colorado Mesa University.

Timothy C. Winegard's profile page

“In this epic saga of the horse and human history, Winegard has researched deeply, written vividly, and made new connections about trade, agricultural production, transportation, and war. The horse has been integral to every point in civilization, and this grand narrative blazes new trails for experts and readers.”
—Tim Cook, bestselling author of Vimy: The Battle and the Legend, The Fight for History, and The Good Allies

“They say that dogs are humankind’s best friend, but as Timothy Winegard makes clear in this sweeping book, it’s the horse that truly deserves that title—and not just that one. Horses were revolutionary political allies, tireless explorers, and our deadliest weapons of war as well. And if we’ve come so far, it’s only because the horse has carried us here, and this book masterfully maps each stage in that 5,500-year epic journey.”
—Sam Kean, author of The Icepick Surgeon and The Disappearing Spoon
“Sprawling and instructive . . . ambitious and entertaining.”
—The Wall Street Journal

“A thorough, comprehensive look at the horse across time and space. . . . Everything you ever wanted to know about the genus Equus.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“A panoramic account of the horse, from its origins some 57 million years ago to its eventual pairing with humans to forge ‘the most dominant animal coalition ever witnessed.’ . . . Winegard gives ample time and space to laying out the historical contexts in which the horse was a central actor, all such contexts making for a book whose revelations about the once all-powerful human-horse dyad will continue to surprise.”
—Booklist
“A fascinating read that reveals the importance of horses in world history.”
—New York Journal of Books

“This highly researched book . . . is an engrossing, stimulating read.”
—Country Life Magazine

“Winegard’s book is truly riveting.”
—History Nerds United
“This highly anticipated new release gallops through more than 5,000 years of civilization, tracing humanity’s fateful and enduring relationship with horses.”
—BookBub
“Lovers of equines will enjoy this engrossing doorstopper, but historians will also find this grand 5,500-year journey a great ride.”
—Bound to Read

"Mankind invented and advanced the modern world, but horses invented and advanced mankind. . . . And Winegard, a historian, argues it's because horses keep us tethered to our most elemental selves."
–Reader’s Digest, "Summer 2024 book selection"

“Horse lovers should absolutely find this book, but historians and lovers of culture will like it, too. . . . The Horse is perfect for someone with a need for steed.”
—Wyoming Tribune Eagle

“The Horse is fascinating, offering a fresh perspective on how crucial horses were in human development. . . . Extensively researched. . . . Interesting, charming, and entertaining.”
—Star Tribune