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What specific research exists on the integration of equines—horses, but also mules and donkeys—into the economic, legal, and social fabric of Early Modern English society?

My interest is in how animals were woven into the legal and economic structures of the period. How were horses valued and assessed in probate inventories? Were there distinct laws or courts for disputes over horse sales or injuries? What was the social and economic hierarchy of equine types (e.g., warhorses, packhorses, cart horses, riding horses for different classes)? Are there studies that use sources like household accounts, court records, or farriers' manuals to answer these questions?

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By Shabir Ahmed Answered 1 year ago

Research using probate inventories (e.g., work by Mark Overton and Peter Edwards) shows horses were often the most valuable movable asset after livestock herds, with clear price differentiation by breed, age, and training. Legally, horses were unique: they were subject to specific statutes against theft (a capital offence), and cases of "horse trespass" or sale disputes filled local courts. The "social hierarchy of equines" is well-documented: the great horse or charger for aristocracy and cavalry; the hunter and coach horse for gentry; the palfrey or galloway for middle-class riding; and the common cart or packhorse for labor. Mules were rare and associated with continental Europe, while donkeys (asses) were low-status beasts of burden. Studies by Joan Thirsk on farming regions and John Langdon on transport detail these economic specializations. This research paints a picture of a society deeply structured by its relationship with equine power and prestige.

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