The horse in the city

In this carefully researched and richly textured book, Clay McShane and Joel A. Tarr examine how horses were essential to the growth and functioning of nineteenth-century American cities.

They explore the horse as a 'living machine' that powered urban transit, freight movement, and leisure activities, while also addressing challenges such as feeding, housing, health, waste management, and regulation.

The book draws on diverse sources including veterinary manuals, stable periodicals, and city newspapers to provide a comprehensive history of the horse's impact on urbanization, industrialization, and reform in the United States.