The author charts the history of the various breeds of heavy horse, conveying the atmosphere of a life known for two millennia and swept aside only by the spread of the internal combustion engine. Newly available in paperback, the book is illustrated with over 100 photographs, including 12 in colour, and these combine with the author's exceptional narrative to make the book a classic of its kind. The work of these horses, both in the town and in the country, is discussed in great detail, making this a compelling account of agricultural and industrial Britain in the era of the horse. Ralph Whitlock draws upon the folklore of previous generations to provide us with details of heavy horse proverbs and horse lore, and concludes the book with an appendix entitled 'A Blacksmith's Reminiscences'.