Horses were an integral part of Victorian life. They were, of course, the primary mode of transportation; if you wanted to get about, you either owned a horse and some sort of vehicle, or you rented one. While people may feel attached to their cars today, the Victorian's relationship with his or her source of transportation tended to be considerably deeper and more affectionate!

Horses

Anecdotes of the Horse (Chambers Miscellany, 1845)

The Horse (Collier's Cyclopedia, 1882)

Includes the history of the horse; varieties of breeds; and some tips on health care and management of horses.

The Horse in Motion, by George E. Waring Jr. (Century Magazine, 1882B)

On the Galloping Horse in Art, by George Snell (Century Magazine, 1883B)

Suggestions on depicting the movement of the horse more accurately.

Horses: What All Girls Should Know About Them (Girl's Own Paper, 1884)

Horses of the Plains, by Frederic Remington (Century Magazine, 1889A)

Our Friends the Horses (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1889)

A reminiscence about some favorite horses and ponies.

Pack Horses in the North, by S. Emily Lumb (Monthly Chronicle of North-County Lore and Legend, 1890)

Jerry: A Personality, by Elizabeth Cavazza (Atlantic Monthly, 1894)

The Horse Market, by Henry Childs Merwin (Century Magazine, 1895A)

The Champion Horse-Breaker, by Albert Broadwell (The Strand, 1899B)

Norton B. Smith trained horses to perform in shows and circuses.

Rearing a Derby Winner (The Strand, 1899A)

Animal Actualities 19: Highway Robbery (The Strand, 1900A)

A felonious horse.

Diving Horses, by Arthur Broadwell (The Strand, 1900A)

Horses by Philip G. Hamerton (Chapters on Animals, 1900)

Lord Rosebery's Turf Success, by Arthur F. Meyrick (Strand, 1901B)

The MP's race horses.

The Prince of Wales' Horses, by Edward H. Cooper (Cassell's, 1900)

The Prince of Wales was a great fan and sponsor of horse-racing; here's a look at his stables, jockeys, and favorite racers.

Some Splendid Shire-Horses, by Gambier Bolton (Windsor Magazine, 1900B)

Breaking Wild Horses for the Army (Strand, 1901A)

The largest firm of horse-breakers for the military was W.R. Grace and Co. of San Francisco, which provided horses for the British army.

A Cemetery for Horses, by Harold J. Shepstone (Strand, 1901B)

A horse cemetery in Palo Alto, California.

Boxing Horses, by H.J. Holmes (Windsor Magazine, 1903A)

Yes, horses that have been trained to box!

• See also Riding, Racing & Driving for more information on horses.

Other Beasts of Barn & Stable

Donkeys and Donkey-Boys (Leisure Hour, 1868)

On the various types of labors performed by donkeys, in London, in the country, at the seaside and in the coal-pit.

How to Manage a Small Dairy, by Lucy Brackenbury (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1880)

Varieties of Cattle (Collier's Cyclopedia, 1882)

Some True Stories About Donkeys (Little Folks, 1883)

Our Four-Footed Friends: Donkeys and Goats by Gordon Stables, M.D., R.N. (Girl's Own Paper, 1884)

The Goat (Pictorial Museum of Sport & Adventure, ca. 1890)

Moorland Idylls 10: The Arcadian Donkey; A Life and Death Struggle, by Grant Allen (English Illustrated Magazine, 1895A)

See Grant Allen's Nature Series for the complete "Moorland Idylls" series.

In a Donkeys' Dairy (The Strand, 1895B)

Even in Victorian days, few people knew that London had its own "donkey dairy," where asses' milk was gathered for a variety of uses (particularly medical).

The Goat as a Pet for Girls, by Bryan Hook (Girl's Own Paper, 1896)

My Donkey Chair, by Emily Tregelles Cook (Girl's Own Paper, 1897)

The cost and maintenance of a small donkey cart.

• See also Royal Pets