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NATURE: EQUUS - THE STORY OF THE HORSE

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As someone who's never really given much thought to horses, but has a love for many other animals, Equus is a remarkably beautiful and informative documentary profiling not just horses themselves, but also the history, cultural impact and scientific study of horses. The two part docu-series begins by highlighting horses in a scientific sense, by illuminating their anatomy and how it functions. The second episode documents a large portion of the history and various genetic offshoots of horses, as well as how humanity has made a lasting impact on them. This whole production is absolutely gorgeous and has amazing production value and aesthetic style. From labs, to stables, to various remote locales, this documentary films it all. It's a tad slow for the younger crowd, but tweens to adults will appreciate the beauty and interesting factoids found throughout this excellent documentary. I recommend it for ages 9 to 18, as well as adults and give it 5 out of 5 stars for being interesting and beautifully filmed. Reviewed by Rachael V., KIDS FIRST! Juror

Ever since the beginning of time, humans and horses have had an extraordinary and unusual partnership. As a result, horses have helped shape the human world. In this program, viewers join anthropologist Dr. Niobe Thompson and equine experts on a two-part adventure around the world and throughout time to discover the origins of the horse and what makes us so perfect for each other. In part one, Origins, viewers experience a stunning 3D reconstruction as a realistic animation of the 45 million-year-old ancestor of the horse, the Dawn horse, rises from a fossil bed and begins a transformation into the magnificent animal we know today. Viewers discover why horses have almost 360-degree vision and gallop on a single toe. In part two of the program, Chasing the Wind, viewers encounter extraordinary horse breeds from Saudi Arabia to Kentucky to Serbia. They also meet the horses of Sable Island that are truly returning to the wild ways of their ancestors, and how horses have evolved to be able to survive the most extreme climates on earth - from the bitter cold of the Siberian Arctic to the scorching heat of the Arabian Desert. Filmed over 18 months across three continents, the program not only explores the horse and its biology but how humans have partnered with the horse throughout the centuries, creating more than 400 breeds found all around the world.