What does science hippology study? The word about horses

The further mankind departs from nature, the less ordinary the philistine knows and remembers about it. For example, not everyone is saying that science studies hippology. And many do not even know that it exists. A more or less educated person will be able to guess the subject of study by the name of science - but in an age of narrow specializations of people with knowledge not related to their immediate activities, it is becoming ever less. Accordingly, the ranks of those who can say what science studies hippology or what ichthyologists are doing is rapidly narrowing. For most, it's just unfamiliar, even if beautifully sounding words.

History of hippology

Meanwhile, the semi-official history of this science totals nearly three millennia, even though it received the modern name only six hundred years ago. Since hippology is the science of horses, at all times, as long as this animal was a constant and very important companion of man, it continuously developed and improved. The first records, referred to the hippology, are dated many hundreds of years before our era. Of course, there were few theoretical data in them, but practical observations were carefully preserved and analyzed. In general, they concerned the use of horses, their dressage and exterior - external data.

Over time, the scientific interests of hippologists have forked. By the end of the 19th century, they began to include the origin of the horse and its natural evolution, physiology, anatomy, biological features of reproduction, the formation of resistant breeds and the maintenance of tribal characteristics.

Since hippology is the science of horses, its name is formed from the corresponding Greek words. Hippos in translation means a horse, and logos - the doctrine of it (in the subscript "word").

Hippology in Russia

While the horse was a valuable component of various directions of the economy, science in the vastness of the Russian state not only did not lag behind the world power, but in some ways even outstripped it. Hippology was an obligatory subject for officers and cadets of artillery and horse troops and schools. Directional breeding work enriched the world with a variety of unique breeds of horses (for example, the Oryol trotters are still appreciated by horse breeders).

However, after the First World War hippology gradually began to disappear from the Russian territories. The current situation is such that it is taught in a very truncated form only to veterinary students, and based on materials published in the 60's. Curious fact: it seems that the last who knew for sure that science studies hippology, and was well versed in horses, was the legendary commander Budenny, under the editorship of which was issued a five-volume book on the horse, containing the most complete at that time hippological data. Since the cavalry ceased to be a decisive military force, and the horses in the fields were replaced by tractors and combines, the science of them became practically unnecessary.

What the science of hippology is studying

Abroad, knowledge about horses is saved and grants for their study are distinguished, albeit in a more modest framework than a century ago. However, various directions of interest to hippologists are still being maintained:

1. Anatomy of horses is thoroughly studied. However, her research does not stop: scientists are interested in the influence on the structure of the animal of a variety of factors.
2. Physiology is studied mainly from the point of view of pedigree characters and the degree of their suitability for various purposes.
3. Tribal work, the creation of new breeds, are in demand more than others.
4. Despite the wild decline in the horse population throughout the planet, horses have survived both on racetracks and in breeding herds. Scientists-hippologists are engaged in developing the right diet, conditions of maintenance and care of horses.
5. Hippology also has its own branch in veterinary medicine: the treatment of horses involves a lot of subtleties and nuances.

Completely new is the use of horses in the treatment of complex childhood diseases, in particular cerebral palsy. It received the name of hippotherapy, and among hippologists there appeared a specialization of zoopsychologists responsible for establishing contacts between man and animal.

Directions of hippology

In our country the science of hippology (the photo of its object above) is more known under the name of horse breeding, which, in turn, has several directions:

• Breeding - the breeding of already existing breeds with observance of the purity of blood; Such horses are very popular as an export commodity;
• Rabotchepozyatelskoe: although as an agricultural animal the horse has long lost its importance, in private farms and in the steppe zones, the horse has preserved a certain significance;
• Productive - horse meat, although inferior in volume to beef and pork, but nevertheless is a valuable product and is widely used in sausage production;
• Sports: cultivation, training and preparation of the main participants in equestrian competitions - horses.

Potential Prospects

It's sad, but until the horses again become an important part of human life, hippology, the science of horses, will not be reborn. Some enlightenment is: not so long ago a good textbook on horses by I. Khiyenkina appeared. Yes, and hippologists categorically not enough at existing studios. However, most likely, the science of horses will continue to disappear from the modern world.