The Horse in History

Man's association with the horse probably began more than 4,000 years ago. In the beginning this association was not a companionable one. Prehistorians believe that man hunted horses as a game animal.

No one knows exactly when or where man first tamed the horse. Some scientists believe that the first horses may have been domesticated in the area of present day Turkestan, probably long before 2000 BC. The horse worked for man as a draft animal for at least 1,000 years before the art of riding developed. However, some groups of nomads probably had small herds of these animals and rode them. When Greek traders first saw these mounted men in the Black Sea region, they believed them to be a strange animal, half horse and half man. The Greeks called them centaurs and developed many fables about these unusual beasts.

War horses and chariots were used by the Mitanni in Syria and the Hittites in Anatolia by about 1600 BC. A remarkable book, the earliest known work devoted exclusively to horses, was written by a Mitanni horseman hired by a Hittite king. The clay tablets that comprise the book give detailed directions for the care and training of chariot horses.

In about 1700 BC the Hyksos from Syria and Palestine introduced domesticated horses into Egypt. By the 1500s BC, the Egyptians used horse-drawn vehicles, but few Egyptians rode horses. By 1000 BC the use of horses had spread westward from Egypt.

The Greeks viewed the horse as a heroic symbol, a wonder beast ridden by great warriors and by the gods. The Romans made great use of the horse, and vehicles carrying freight or passengers clattered over the streets of Rome. By 45 BC, all vehicles had been banned from within the city, and in other cities they were allowed only at night. Presumably the reason for this ban was because the vehicles endangered pedestrians and caused traffic jams.

As the use of horses spread throughout the ancient world, breeding programs were established to produce animals with special qualities to suit specific purposes. For example, a large, heavy horse was needed to carry an armored soldier into battle, but a small, light horse could be used for riding and racing. Generations of cross-breeding made pure strains rare.

During the Middle Ages, experimentation in breeding horses continued. The growth of international trade increased the need for a reasonable means for the overland transportation of goods. Sturdy pack horses were desired to carry merchandise between towns and into the countryside. Large, strong draft horses were in demand for use in teams to draw carts of bulk merchandise over long distances. In addition, horses for the business of knighthood had to be developed. A well-equipped knight needed at least four different types of horses: (1) a charger, (2) a palfrey, (3) a courser, and (4) a battle horse.

European explorers brought horses to the New World--the first in the Americas since the native horses had died out about 8,500 years before. The Spanish had royal horse farms operating in Jamaica by 1515, and Francisco Pizarro obtained horses from these farms for his expeditions to Peru. Stock farms in Cuba supplied horses to Hernando Cortez for the invasion of Mexico in 1519. Horses carried the Spanish explorers and colonizers in their push through southwestern and western North America.

The westward movement from eastern North America is usually symbolized by the covered wagon. Many of the wagons were drawn by oxen, but mounted explorers usually preceded them, and mounted scouts accompanied them. After the West began to open up, the wagons were replaced by stagecoaches that carried passengers and mail.

Until the early 1900s, horses supplied much of the transportation and much of the power for vehicles. Horses pulled the first railroad cars. In the cities, horses drew the garbage wagons, milk carts, and fire engines. On the farms, ranches, and plantations, they powered the plows and harvesting machines. Today, the automobile, truck, and tractor have largely replaced the horse, although the performance capability of these vehicles is still evaluated in horsepower.

The horse has long been a source of recreation for humans. The Persians were playing polo long before 600 BC. The ancient Greeks hunted wild boar and mountain lion on horseback. The ancient Romans conducted horse shows, which included chariot racing as well as trick riding. The English of the 1100s enjoyed thoroughbred racing and fox hunting. Circuses and rodeos still draw thousands of spectators.

As the horse became less important in warfare, as a beast of burden, and as a means of transportation because of increased mechanization, it became more important in sport. In the United States, after a drop in the horse population during the early 1900s, the number of horses bred and registered gradually increased. Today horses are used for pleasure riding, racing, hunting, and polo. Horse show competitions of various kinds are also popular. Many persons vie for top honors at rodeos, pony club rallies, and 4-H club meets as well as at the traditional horse shows. Although the use of the workhorse has gradually dwindled, the need of the horse as a companion in recreation continues to increase.


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In the beginning this association was not a companionable one. Prehistorians believe that man hunted horses as a game animal. No one knows exactly when or where man first tamed the horse. Some scientists believe that the first horses may have been domesticated in the area of present day Turkestan, probably long before 2000 BC. The horse worked for man as a draft animal for at least 1,000 years before the art of riding developed. However, some groups of nomads probably had small herds of these animals and rode them. When Greek traders first saw these mounted men in the Black Sea region, they believed them to be a strange animal, half horse and half man. The Greeks called them centaurs and developed many fables about these unusual beasts. Horses in the Ancient World War horses and chariots were used by the Mitanni in Syria and the Hittites in Anatolia by about 1600 BC. A remarkable book, the earliest known work devoted exclusively to horses, was written by a Mitanni horseman hired by a Hittite king. The clay tablets that comprise the book give detailed directions for the care and training of chariot horses. In about 1700 BC the Hyksos from Syria and Palestine introduced domesticated horses into Egypt. By the 1500s BC, the Egyptians used horse-drawn vehicles, but few Egyptians rode horses. By 1000 BC the use of horses had spread westward from Egypt. The Greeks viewed the horse as a heroic symbol, a wonder beast ridden by great warriors and by the gods. The Romans made great use of the horse, and vehicles carrying freight or passengers clattered over the streets of Rome. By 45 BC, all vehicles had been banned from within the city, and in other cities they were allowed only at night. Presumably the reason for this ban was because the vehicles endangered pedestrians and caused traffic jams. As the use of horses spread throughout the ancient world, breeding programs were established to produce animals with special qualities to suit specific purposes. For example, a large, heavy horse was needed to carry an armored soldier into battle, but a small, light horse could be used for riding and racing. Generations of cross-breeding made pure strains rare. Horses in the Medieval World During the Middle Ages, experimentation in breeding horses continued. The growth of international trade increased the need for a reasonable means for the overland transportation of goods. Sturdy pack horses were desired to carry merchandise between towns and into the countryside. Large, strong draft horses were in demand for use in teams to draw carts of bulk merchandise over long distances. In addition, horses for the business of knighthood had to be developed. A well-equipped knight needed at least four different types of horses: (1) a charger, (2) a palfrey, (3) a courser, and (4) a battle horse. Horses in American Conquest and Exploration European explorers brought horses to the New World--the first in the Americas since the native horses had died out about 8,500 years before. The Spanish had royal horse farms operating in Jamaica by 1515, and Francisco Pizarro obtained horses from these farms for his expeditions to Peru. Stock farms in Cuba supplied horses to Hernando Cortez for the invasion of Mexico in 1519. Horses carried the Spanish explorers and colonizers in their push through southwestern and western North America. The westward movement from eastern North America is usually symbolized by the covered wagon. Many of the wagons were drawn by oxen, but mounted explorers usually preceded them, and mounted scouts accompanied them. After the West began to open up, the wagons were replaced by stagecoaches that carried passengers and mail. Until the early 1900s, horses supplied much of the transportation and much of the power for vehicles. Horses pulled the first railroad cars. In the cities, horses drew the garbage wagons, milk carts, and fire engines. On the farms, ranches, and plantations, they powered the plows and harvesting machines. Today, the automobile, truck, and tractor have largely replaced the horse, although the performance capability of these vehicles is still evaluated in horsepower. . Horses in Sport The horse has long been a source of recreation for humans. The Persians were playing polo long before 600 BC. The ancient Greeks hunted wild boar and mountain lion on horseback. The ancient Romans conducted horse shows, which included chariot racing as well as trick riding. The English of the 1100s enjoyed thoroughbred racing and fox hunting. Circuses and rodeos still draw thousands of spectators. As the horse became less important in warfare, as a beast of burden, and as a means of transportation because of increased mechanization, it became more important in sport. In the United States, after a drop in the horse population during the early 1900s, the number of horses bred and registered gradually increased. Today horses are used for pleasure riding, racing, hunting, and polo. Horse show competitions of various kinds are also popular. Many persons vie for top honors at rodeos, pony club rallies, and 4-H club meets as well as at the traditional horse shows. Although the use of the workhorse has gradually dwindled, the need of the horse as a companion in recreation continues to increase. Comptons Encyclopedia View My Guestbook Sign My Guestbook