The LMU Collection of Veterinary History

“When you want to take a horse to the church, think it over carefully and make sure you arrange things so that you don’t do too much or too little in either case.”

These words open the therapeutic section of the work by the 17th-century equine veterinarian Martin Böhme. He practiced during the era of the Stallmeister (1250–1762), a period spanning nearly 500 years that preceded the advent of modern veterinary education. During this time, so-called stable masters were responsible for maintaining the health of the horse herds. They passed their knowledge on to the next generation.

In the Exhibition “A Glimpse Over the Stable Master’s Shoulder: Instruments from the LMU Munich Collection of Veterinary History,” visitors can gain insights and be transported back to everyday life in those days. The LMU Munich collection of veterinary history objects showcases selected treasures from its otherwise well-guarded storage.