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Charleston Horse Power: Equine Culture in the Palmetto City
Book release August 23, 2023 from University of South Carolina Press
 

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"Discover the fascinating history and legacy of working equines in Charleston, South Carolina

Featuring thorough research, absorbing storytelling, and captivating photographs, Charleston Horse Power takes readers back to an equine-dominated city of the past, in which horses and mules pervaded all aspects of urban life. Author, scholar, and preservationist Christina Rae Butler describes carriage types and equine roles (both privately owned animals and those in the city’s streets, fire, and police department herds), animal power in industrial settings, regulations for animals and their drivers, horse-racing culture, and Charleston’s equine lifestyles and architecture. Butler profiles the people who made their livings with horses and mules— from drivers, grooms, and carriage makers, to farriers, veterinarians, and trainers.

Charleston Horse Power is a richly illus- trated and comprehensive examination of the social and cultural history and legacy of Charleston’s equine economy. Urban historians, historic preservationists, general readers, and Charleston visitors interested in discovering a vital aspect of the city’s past and present will enjoy and appreciate this impressive work."

- From USC Press Spring Catalog

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