"In premodern societies, the horse is everywhere--in the economy, in warfare, in politics, and in the most diverse activities--just as the automobile is in other societies. Necessity, power, pleasure: all make the horse a useful and effective tool, as well as a distinctive social sign and symbol. A permanent fact in the Western world, this specific relationship between humans and horses is embodied in the prestige of the Society of riding masters whose Art influences other civilizations. Horses thus construct status, teach lessons of discipline and control, and shape identities, both individual and collective. This is the principal contribution of the collection of essays assembled by Karen Raber and Treva J. Tucker. It is a magnificent proof of the vitality of early modern cultural history in the United States."--Daniel Roche, Collège de France