History of Horses

Most people know that the horse has been around for many millions of years. What they may not realise, is how it has evolved during that time, going from a multi-toed species to the single toe that the horses of today possess. Also, back then, they were no bigger than a dog.

Horse Domestication

The taking of a wild horse and turning into a tame one dates back to 4000 BC. Today, there is only one horse which is considered to be a truly wild horse, and that is the Przewaiski’s horse which has not been seen in the wild since 1966. This horse is only found in central Asia and is an endangered species.

The Value of the Horse

The horse is one of those animals which tend to get taken for granted. They are in today’s world used for many purposes. Some of these tasks are similar to what they were initially used for, while others are new. The one thing that they have always been used for is as a mode of transportation. Once it was discovered that the horse could be tamed, it changed forever the way that people could get from one place to another and be able to take several items with them.

The Disappearance

Although the horse can be traced back so many years, what has also been discovered, is that about 10000 years ago, the Americas were no longer home to the horse. The reasons for this are unknown, but it is speculated that it may be as a result of the end of the ice age. Then, others think that it may have been from the people hunting the horses. Horses were used for food before they were for transportation.

Warfare

Once it was discovered that aside from food, a horse could be used for riding, it wasn’t long before they became part of the battleground. This is aptly seen when going back to the days of the Romans. The chariots were drawn by horses as they entered into battle.

The invention of the saddle and stirrups created a whole new way of riding, which allowed for the use of the horse in warfare. This took place in China, dating back more than 2000 years ago. It wasn’t long before riders mastered the art of archery on horseback; this made them fierce warriors to contend with during battle.

Moving into the Future

Once other modes of transportation were discovered, this lifted the responsibility of the horse somewhat. Although still used for the same purpose today, horses are also used for many other activities. When one thinks of the value of the horse, it makes one wonder what would the world do without them.