Genetic evidence indicates that domestication of the modern horse’s ancestors likely occurred in an area known as the Volga-Don, in the Pontic–Caspian steppe region of Western Eurasia, around 2200 BCE. From there, use of horses spread across Eurasia for transportation, agricultural work, and warfare. When did Europe start using horses? Read more…
Ownership of horses was a major status symbol to the Celts, as well as other early peoples. Horses were, and still are, relatively costly to maintain, and wherever their use became widespread, a social division opened up between those who could afford to keep them and those who could not. Read more…
Before roads connected the towns of colonial America, the saddle horse was the principal means of transportation, and Rhode Island served as the main source for excellent horses. Did colonists have horses? Not native to the American continent, horses were introduced by Europeans who ventured across the ocean. In the Read more…
Travois Construction The travois consisted of two long, wooden poles, each lashed to the sides of the dog or horse, often with a leather harness. Secured with sinew, a basket or platform was suspended between the two poles that dragged behind the animal. What pulled a travois? Pulled by dogs Read more…
From Shires to Shetlands, Highlands to Hackneys, here are 16 native horse breeds of Britain. Are horses native to United Kingdom? Domestic horses and ponies are a familiar feature of the British countryside. Few realise that these are derived from the extinct wild horse that was once widespread across north-west Read more…
The acquisition of horses by North American First Nations, particularly Plains tribes, generally is considered to have been responsible for the spread of horses throughout the western part of the continent. The French brought horses with them when they colonized eastern Canada in the mid-1600s. What did the first nations Read more…
They used dogs to pull some loads, they built boats, but mostly, they did a lot of walking. What did Native Americans use before horses were reintroduced to the Americas? How did people get around before horses? Horses were first domesticated in around 3500 BC, probably on the steppes of Read more…
The modern Chinese horse originated from horses introduced to China from elsewhere, as well as local stock. For centuries, horse lovers in China have believed their native equids descended from pure Chinese origins. Are horses native to China? There are over five million horses in China, the majority of which Read more…
Yili horses are normally bay, chestnut, black or gray and are an average height of 14 hands high. What are Chinese horses called? Among the most iconic Chinese horse breeds are the Baise, Balikun, Heihe, Guoxia, Ferghana, Guizhou, Datong, Jielin, Lijiang, Nangchen, Riwoche, Tibetan, Xilingol, Yili, Yunnan and Hequ. Though Read more…
According to the Los Angeles Times, “The Imperial household said it had received no offer to purchase Emperor Hirohito’s favorite horse. In fact, the Imperial household said the white horse Hatsushimo (First Frost) which was exhibited in the United States as the Emperor’s former mount, never belonged to him at Read more…