history of the horse

ANSC 175: Basic Horse Science

History of the HorseHistory of the Horse

Lecture 1Lecture 1


Objectives:Objectives:

• Name several members of the genus Name several members of the genus EquusEquus• List the taxonomy of the modern horseList the taxonomy of the modern horse• Describe the 2 schools of thought on the first Describe the 2 schools of thought on the first

domestication of the horsedomestication of the horse• Describe the evolution of the horseDescribe the evolution of the horse• Describe several uses that the horse served Describe several uses that the horse served

over time and presentlyover time and presently• Name the explorer that brought the first Name the explorer that brought the first

horses to the United Stateshorses to the United States


Objectives:Objectives:

• Describe the history of horses in the Describe the history of horses in the United StatesUnited States

• Describe the present status of the Describe the present status of the industry in the United Statesindustry in the United States


What is “horse”What is “horse”

• Derived from Anglo-Saxon Derived from Anglo-Saxon horshors, , meaning swiftnessmeaning swiftness

• Word “horsemen” comes from the Word “horsemen” comes from the Hebrew root “to prick” or “spur”Hebrew root “to prick” or “spur”


Evolution: Where does the horse fit in Evolution: Where does the horse fit in the zoological scheme?the zoological scheme?

Kingdom:Animalia

Phylum:Chordata

Class:Mammalia

Order:Perissodactyla

Family:Equidae

Genus:Equus

Species:caballus


EohippusEohippus

•4-toed ancestor•“Dawn Horse”

•No more than a foot high• 4 toes on front feet, 3 toes on back feet. •Well adapted to traveling in and feeding on the herbage of swamplands•Gradually grew in size and changed in form…evolving into…


MesohippusMesohippus•About 24 in•Horse got taller•Teeth got longer/stronger• Cannon bones lengthened and formed a hoof,• Three toes on the front feet better suited for out running enemies•These changes occurred that the animal out of the swamp lands and able to survive in forests and prairies


PliohippusPliohippus

• First single toed evolutionary in First single toed evolutionary in history- Single toe continued from the history- Single toe continued from the over development of the middle toe.over development of the middle toe.

• Closest to present day horseClosest to present day horse

• 8000 years ago Equus became extinct 8000 years ago Equus became extinct in Western Hemisphere until the in Western Hemisphere until the Spanish brought horses to the New Spanish brought horses to the New World in the 1400’sWorld in the 1400’s


Evolution of Horse HoofEvolution of Horse Hoof


Evolution of Horse Evolution of Horse


Origin/DomesticationOrigin/Domestication

• 2 current schools of thought on 2 current schools of thought on domestication:domestication:

– 1991: report based on archeological 1991: report based on archeological evidence, placing earliest domestication evidence, placing earliest domestication and use of horses at 4000 BC in the and use of horses at 4000 BC in the Ukrainian steppes (treeless, level prairie)Ukrainian steppes (treeless, level prairie)


Origin/DomesticationOrigin/Domestication

• 2 current schools of thought on 2 current schools of thought on domestication:domestication:

– Crediting the Scythian nomads of central Crediting the Scythian nomads of central Asia as being the first to domesticate and Asia as being the first to domesticate and use horses in the 7use horses in the 7thth century, BC. century, BC.


Oriental Light LeggedOriental Light Legged

•Sometimes referred to as Oriental Light Legged Horses. •Were of Asiatic origin…tracing to a wild horse of the Asiatic deserts that is now extinct•Gave rise to the most swift and slenderly built breeds of modern times…the Arabian, the Barb, and the Turk are all descendents


Wild Horses of EuropeWild Horses of Europe•Sometimes referred to as the European forest type

•One of the pagan practices of the German tribes was the sacrifice of horses and the eating of their meat at religious feasts (worship the horse)

•Was the wild black horse of Flanders – stocky, more size/scale than the oriental type. More of a draft type…

•Also Shetland pony ancestors…so variety in size!


TarpanTarpan


Przewalski HorsePrzewalski Horse


Early Uses of the HorseEarly Uses of the Horse


Source of FoodSource of Food

• First role of horsesFirst role of horses

• During Old Stone Age (Paleolithic) During Old Stone Age (Paleolithic) horses were hunted (prior to horses were hunted (prior to domestication)domestication)

• Mares milked for human foodMares milked for human food

• Horse meat still consumed in many Horse meat still consumed in many culturescultures


Military UsesMilitary Uses


Sport Uses Sport Uses

As early as 1450 BC, Greeks introduced horses into Olympics, chariot and horse racing

Modern times…many sport uses


Agrarian UsesAgrarian UsesUse as draft animals fairly recent when compared to previous uses…

No evidence to indicate that the horse was used in Europe to plow prior to the 10th century.

Oxen remained the common plow animal until the end of the 18th century


Agrarian UsesAgrarian Uses


Presence in North AmericaPresence in North America

• Fossils remains indicate that members of the horse family Fossils remains indicate that members of the horse family roamed the plains of America during Tertiary period…roamed the plains of America during Tertiary period…

• No horses were present when Columbus discovered America No horses were present when Columbus discovered America in 1492in 1492

• Disappearance still great mystery that is unexplained. Many Disappearance still great mystery that is unexplained. Many theories including:theories including:

Contagious disease or fatal parasiteContagious disease or fatal parasite

Climatic changes, competition, or failure to adaptClimatic changes, competition, or failure to adapt

• Conditions were favorable for reestablishment by the SpanishConditions were favorable for reestablishment by the Spanish


History of Horses and Mules in the History of Horses and Mules in the United StatesUnited States

• Columbus first to bring Columbus first to bring horses to the West Indies on horses to the West Indies on his second voyage in 1493his second voyage in 1493

• Cortez brought Spanish Cortez brought Spanish horses in 1519 (Mexico – 16 horses in 1519 (Mexico – 16 hd at first…then about 1,000 hd at first…then about 1,000 were brought in over the were brought in over the next 2 yrs)next 2 yrs)



• HHorses brought to the orses brought to the “United States” by de Soto “United States” by de Soto in 1539…had 237 horses on in 1539…had 237 horses on his vessels that traveled his vessels that traveled from the Everglades to the from the Everglades to the OzarksOzarks

• Following his death, Following his death, followers returned via boat, followers returned via boat, abandoning many of the abandoning many of the their horses.their horses.



About 1600 – Spanish missions from Rio Grande to Pacific coast

Evolution of vaquero horsemanship


Californio TraditionCalifornio Tradition

• Spanish Style for breaking horsesSpanish Style for breaking horses• Hackamore, two-rein, spade bit or up-in the Hackamore, two-rein, spade bit or up-in the

bridlebridle• Ranching lifestyle, way of lifeRanching lifestyle, way of life• Pride in improving horse and horsemanshipPride in improving horse and horsemanship• VideoVideo• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFuC_g6Z

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• New England: horses became valuable New England: horses became valuable for export to West Indies…led to for export to West Indies…led to lucrative horse stealing business!lucrative horse stealing business!

• Plantations – need for easy riding Plantations – need for easy riding saddle horses, racing became commonsaddle horses, racing became common– By 1730, importation of English By 1730, importation of English

racehorses beganracehorses began


Past uses to Present DayPast uses to Present Day

• Recreation/ShowRecreation/Show

• RodeoRodeo

• RanchingRanching

• RacingRacing

• Can you think of any ???Can you think of any ???


DisciplinesDisciplines

• EnglishEnglish

• WesternWestern

• RodeoRodeo

• Cow HorsesCow Horses

• Jumpers/EventersJumpers/Eventers

• PleasurePleasure


Summary:Summary:

• TaxonomyTaxonomy

• EvolutionEvolution

• World historyWorld history

• US historyUS history

• Present day usePresent day use

history of the horse

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