[“This helps; this is good”. Horse books of Tibetan Himalayas].

The research explores “horse books” from High Himalayas in Nepal, which are essentially Tibetan writings dealing primarily with horse studies and to a lesser extent, subjects such as pharmacology, anatomy, diagnosis methods, divination and magical practices for horse races. It discusses how these treatment methods in Tibetan veterinary medicine are driven by the principles of human medicine related to Ayurvedic System and Traditional Chinese Medicine, and highlights a substantial similarity in the structure of these manuscripts with corresponding European texts on horse management and medicine.

Investigation of Horse Books

• The study revolves around the investigation of ancient Tibetan manuscripts known as “horse books” found in the High Himalayas region of Nepal.
• Primarily, these books concern the study of horses (defined as hippology and hippiatry), but they also cover topics such as pharmacology (the study of drugs), anatomy (the study of body structures), diagnostic methods and even divination and magical practices for horse races.

Relation with Human Medicine

• The therapeutic methods for treating horses described in these texts follow the principles of human medicine. Particularly, they are influenced by two major traditional medicinal systems:
• Firstly, the Ayurvedic System, an ancient Indian philosophy of health and wellness that focuses on maintaining a physical and emotional balance.
• Secondly, Traditional Chinese Medicine, a healing approach developed in China over 2000 years ago, primarily involving treatment methods such as acupuncture, herbal remedies, and exercises aimed at improving energy flow.

Comparison with European Horse Management Texts

• A critical part of the study is the comparison of these Tibetan manuscripts with corresponding European manuscripts concerning horse management and medicine.
• Upon comparison, a high degree of structural similarity was perceived between the two. This observation suggests a shared knowledge or potentially intercultural communication between these regions during the time when these books were written.