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History of the Horse

History of the Horse. “History was written on the back of a horse”. The Big Scary “E” Word. Evolution: A change over time Almost everything evolves, even you! Evolution as generally discussed is the theory that animal species have changed and adapted to better suit their environment.

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History of the Horse

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  1. History of the Horse “History was written on the back of a horse”

  2. The Big Scary “E” Word • Evolution: A change over time • Almost everything evolves, even you! • Evolution as generally discussed is the theory that animal species have changed and adapted to better suit their environment

  3. Horse Evolution • The horse is probably the most widely studied species when it comes to evolution • The theory of equine evolution dates back to the late 1700’s

  4. Eohippus • More than 60 million years ago • It was about the size of a small fox • 14 inches tall and 12 lbs. • Nicknamed the “dawn horse”

  5. Eohippus • Teeth were like pigs (short & crowned) • Had 5 toes on front and 3 on back • Body structure looked like a deer

  6. Eohippus

  7. Mesohippus • 30-40 million years ago • Stood 18-24” at the shoulder • Longer legs • Had a longer face (more horse like) • Three toes only • Fourth toe turned into the ergot (back of horses fetlock)

  8. Mesohippus

  9. Miohippus • 30 million years ago • Had a concave, more horse-like face • Stood a minimum of 24” at the shoulder • About 45 lbs • Ankle joint changing to accommodate faster motion

  10. Miohippus

  11. Merychippus • Had most of the weight on the inside toe (outer no longer served a purpose) • Looked very similar to the horse of today • Very fast • More periphial vision • Stood 40 inches at the shoulder

  12. Merychippus

  13. Pliohippus • First single toed (hoofed) horse ancestor • 48 inches (12 hands) at the shoulder • Most recent ancestor of all horses • Zebra like body • All horse breeds are thought to develop from this ancestor over 5 million years

  14. Pliohippus

  15. Early Horse Groups • There are four “pony” types that evolved from the Pliohippus that are thought to be precursors to the modern day horses through the world

  16. Pony Type 1 • Thought to live in NW Europe • Resistant to wet and cold

  17. Pony Type 2 • Lived in Asian regions • Larger than type 1 • Between 14 and 14.2 hands tall

  18. Pony Type 3 • Lived in the deserts of Central Asia • Very long and course in appearance

  19. Pony Type 4 • Precursor to the Arabian • About 12 hands tall • Very refined in structure

  20. Prezwalski’s Horse • Closest breed to the horse ancestor • Highly endangered • Now only living in zoos

  21. Today’s Horse Types • Draft, Light, and Pony

  22. Horses and Humans From Food Source to Power Source and Beyond

  23. Once Upon a Time • Early ancestors to the horse were used as a food source for early man • They were fast, hard to catch, and a very prized animal to hunt

  24. Once Upon a Time • Even in caveman times, man saw horses as powerful and majestic • Cave man carved horse figurine out of mammoth tusk (dated back at least 30,000 years ago)

  25. Oldest Breed of Horse • Przewalski’s Horse • The oldest known relative to Pliohippus • Never been tamed • Vicious if threatened

  26. Early Relationships with Man • 50,000 years ago, man established a relationship with the horse • It was a predator-prey relationship • Cro-Mangan killed horses by running them off of cliffs • One site in France has over 10,000 horse skeletons

  27. Early Relationships with Man • Most probably, the most docile horses were used as pack animals for early man • They were raised much like we raise cattle today • Still a source of food (milk & meat) • More important to the survival

  28. Early Attempts at Riding • No doubt, it was a young cro-magan with a sense of adventure that rode the first horse • No saddle or reins • First known riders were in the Ukraine • Had bits and crude saddles to help them stay on and control the horse • 4000 BC

  29. Transportation • Man had been using oxen to pull carts • Around 3000 BC, horses were used to pull carts • Used a “nose ring” control

  30. Horsepower • Between 2500 and 2000 BC, the horse grew widely in popularity for transportation • Transported to the Near East (China) • Used a oxen-like yoke to start with • Cut off horse’s wind and they developed better methods of harnessing horses

  31. Horsepower • About 1500 BC, the first metal bits were found • Very similar to a gag bit with sliding mouthpieces for extra control • Added to the growing sport of chariot racing

  32. Horse “Masters” • Egypt started wide use of horses for transportation and luxury • The Kikkuli • In Africa • The first to implement widespread specific training for horses • Had a war horse program (interval training) • Amazing from modern standpoint

  33. Horse & Rider • The first known riding came after horses had been used as a cart animal • Had crude saddle “donkey seat” and a nose ring • From historical accounts, not much control of the animal

  34. Etruscan Horsemen • People that lived in what is now Northern to Central Italy • From 1000-509 BC • First people to master the actual art of horsemanship

  35. Horses in Myth • Around 700 BC, horses became prominent sources of mythical stories (Greek) • Posidon • Creatures came into imagination • Unicorns • Pegasus • Centaur

  36. Progression • From 500 BC-500 AD, great advances were made in the horse world • Became more common, more widespread, and more of a status symbol

  37. Progression • Horses made war easier, transportation faster, and were easier to maintain than oxen

  38. Xenophon • Father of Classical horsemanship • Greek man that had many horses • Wrote a book called “The Art of Horsemanship” • Has very realistic principles

  39. First Historic Horse Individual • Alexander the Great • Fearless leader of Greece • On a world domination tour • Horse was Bucephalus • Earliest famous horse

  40. The Roman Empire • Circus Maximus (the great chariot races) • Chariot racing became the number one sport and was world reknowned for its drama and luxury • Charioters were paid with money or farms • Romans together had 14,000 professional chariot horses at one time • Dangerous sport

  41. The Roman Empire • Romans also built an extensive highway system for use with a horse cart • Created the first horseshoe “hipposandal”

  42. Oriental Horse • China made great advancements with the horse and tack as well • Atilla the Hun 406-453 AD • Commanded the greatest horseback army up to that point • Large powerful, draft breed animals (ancestors to the Fresian horses today)

  43. Friesian

  44. The Rest of the Story Horse in History

  45. Middle Ages (600 AD) • Charlemayne • “Charles the Great” • Combined and conquered the Romans • Rode “the best horse in the land” even if he had to take a better one from a farmer • Dunstan • “Horse Shoe over the Door”

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