author
Claude Bourgelat
1712–1779
A horseman, writer, and reformer, he helped turn animal care into a serious science. His work led to the first veterinary schools in the world and shaped the profession long after the 18th century.
1 Audiobook
A New System of Horsemanship
by Claude Bourgelat
About the author
Born in Lyon in 1712, Claude Bourgelat became one of the key early figures in veterinary medicine. He was known for his deep knowledge of horses and for bringing careful observation and scientific thinking to the treatment of animal disease.
Bourgelat founded the first veterinary school in Lyon in the early 1760s, followed by another at Maisons-Alfort near Paris. These schools helped create formal professional training for veterinarians and marked a major change in how animal health was studied and taught.
He also wrote influential works on horsemanship and animal medicine, and his ideas spread widely during his lifetime. Today he is often remembered as a founder of modern veterinary education and as a bridge between practical horse care and the emerging science of medicine.