Aims of the module
To provide an understanding of the role of the horse in the economic, cultural, social and military history of Britain and to develop an awareness of the relationship between the history of the horse-drawn economy and the evolution of the contemporary horse industry.

Syllabus / Curriculum design
The Horse and the defence of the realm, 1066 - 1666; The rise of equestrianism and the evolution of the English Thoroughbred; The myths of pedigree; The horse-drawn society in Victorian Britain; Horses, the Government and the Army; The agricultural horse and its delayed decline; The horse in European pre-history.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students will be able to:

(i) Understand the role and significance of the horse in all aspects of the pre-combustion engine economy;

(ii) Recognise the contribution of the horse to the social and cultural evolution of Britain;

(iii) Understand the history of the horse as a sporting animal and the relationship between historical development
and contemporary equestrian sports.