Uses of the Horse Throughout History

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Uses of the Horse Throughout History

• Jeanene Russo
• AVS 466
• 7 March 2008

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Background

• The first horse, known as the Eohippus can be
  traced back 50-60 million years
• Stood about 10- 14 inches high
• Weighed about 12 pounds
• Had padded feet with four toes on the front and
  three on back
• Inhabited semi-tropical forests and marshy areas

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Adaptations

• As the environment changed the horse began to
  adapt to its
• surroundings
• Grew taller and heavier
• Feet reduced to three padded toes
• Developed teeth more equipped for eating a larger
  variety of plants
• The neck and head become longer- more capable for
  grazing
• Incisors in scull moved forward
• Eyes grew farther apart
• Legs grew longer for more speed
• Side toes regressed to become the ergots and
  splint bones on
• the modern horse

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Domestication

• Many carvings of bone such as these were found in
  prehistoric caves Lascaux Cave
  drawings in France prove existence of
  horses in the lives of prehistoric humans
• It is unclear when exactly the horse was
  domesticated
• Varied depending on location, climate and human
  activity
• First human/ horse relationships appeared as
  early as 30,000 B.C
• Cave paintings and artifacts prove humans had
  connections with horses
• Chariots, tack, corrals, and other remnants began
  to appear about 14,000 B.C
• Remnants s of horse bones and chariots can be
  found among those in tombs of the Sintashta and
  Petrovka tribes dated 2100 BC

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Early Tack

• Most early humans rode hunted, and fought
  bareback and used a crude bridle
• Rough saddles with little padding were used
  around 4th century B.C
• 500 B.C a simple toe strap was invented in India-
  later developed into stirrup and widely used
  around Asia and Europe by 700 A.D
• 2nd century A.D the Romans created a full treed
  saddle- allowed more comfort for the horse and
  better security for the rider

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Harnessing the power

• 2500 B.C the horses pulled carts with yokes- like
  those used for oxen
• 1600 B.C the harness and breast collar was
  developed which allowed the horse to move much
  faster and easier when hitched
• 5th century China developed the Horse Collar
  giving the horse more ability to pull heavy
  weight
• 9th century Horse collar was introduced to Europe
• 12th century, use of the Horse collar common
  across Europe and Asia
• Early Egyptian chariot with yoke

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Warfare

• First known Calvary developed in the 8th century
  B.C by the Assyrians to fight nomadic invaders
  from the north
• Used in chariot warfare, close combat, raids,
  transportation, scouting and hauling supplies
• Specific breeds raised for speed and agility or
  protection and solidity
• Horses were trained to bite, kick, or strike on
  the battle field or to stay calm and quiet before
  a raid

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Light Breeds

• 13-15 hands
• High endurance, fast and agile
• Used by the Arabs, Ancient Egyptians, Native
  Americans and others
• Ideal for the Calvary, carrying soldiers with
  light weapons and pulling chariots
• Arabian, Barb and Akhal- Teke

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Medium Breeds

• 14-17 hands
• Bigger and stronger than light horse but still
  able to maneuver quickly
• Hauled large Calvary men and armor, bigger
  chariots, and supply wagons
• Lipizzan, Andalusian, other Warmbloods
• Used mostly by Europeans

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Heavy Breeds

• Largest, thickest and strongest of horses
• Ideal for pulling heavy supply wagons and
  weapons, carried large heavily armored knights
• Desired for calm disposition during battle
• Percheron and other draft breeds
• Popular in Europe beginning in the middle ages
  and used thereafter

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Farming

• Agriculture has been in existence for at least
  10,000 years
• Animals and humans were main source of labor
  until the 20th century
• Mules and draft horses most commonly used due to
  strength and endurance
• Pulled plows, wagons, harvest equipment
• Hitched to mills for grinding wheat for flour

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Logging

• Used for skidding and loading logs
• Hauled loaded wagons out of the woods
• Still used in some areas because it is cheaper
  and causes less damage to environment than modern
  machinery

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Transportation

• Primary means of transportation
• Pulled royal carriages, carts, buggies,
  stagecoaches etc.
• Carried mail
• Shipped goods in cargo wagons and along the canals

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On the Canal Banks

• Pulled boats and barges along the great canals in
  the 1800s- 1900s
• Transported goods to farther, faster and cheaper
  than by wagon
• Carried travelers and settlers which expanded US
  development
• Allowed an easy trade between cities and allowed
  dispersion of foreign goods from coastal towns to
  those more inland.

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Ranching

• The horse has been essential to cattle ranches
  since the beginning
• The Quarter Horses athletic ability and
  willingness makes it an ideal ranch horse
• Crucial asset in completing jobs such as
• Roping
• Branding
• Sorting
• Gathering the herd
• Driving cattle to market
• Riding fence line

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Packing

• The mule was the preferred pack animal due to its
  stamina, intelligence and agility
• Can pack about 20 of its weight, sure footed and
  has tough hooves
• Mule Trains were used by the Forest Service to
  carry supplies for fighting fires, cutting
  trails, building fire towers, plus food for the
  workers
• Packed merchandise into wild areas where
  motorized vehicles can not go
• Have been used to haul military supplies in
  several countries around the world
• Continue to serve people for recreation hunting
  and packing trips today

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Entertainment

• Horses have served to be a major source of
  entertainment since their domestication.
• In 648 B.C the first horse race with riders
  (instead of chariots) appeared in ancient Greece
  but did not become popular world wide until 200
  A.D
• 416 B.C Romans competed in chariot races that
  thrilled up to 10,000 spectators
• In 1066 the jousting tournaments in the Europe
  began and captured the excitement of nobles as
  well as commoners
• The American West has also been capturing
  audiences through Rodeos since the 1700s
• There are hundreds of horse sports that have
  delighted spectators for thousands of years and
  continue to be very popular in todays society.

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Competition

• Modern competitions have rooted from past battle
  or work
• Dressage and show jumping derived from training
  methods used in the 17th and 18th century to
  create a Calvary horse that was supple and
  responsive
• Eventing- originated from a 3 day test for the
  Calvary horse.
• Endurance race with obstacles- tested fitness and
  ability to quickly cover rough countryside if
  needed
• Dressage test- proved precision of body movements
  and parade performance
• Stadium jumping tested how well the horse could
  still collect itself and perform with grace after
  the endurance test.
• Cutting and team penning competitions demonstrate
  horse and riders ability to sort cattle- roots
  from a former ranching skill
• Pulling Contests for Draft horse display the
  strength and teamwork displayed in work horses
• Rooted from logging practices when pulling skids
  out of the forests
• Many other modern competitions reflect the
  horses past

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Equine AssistedTherapy

• Allows children with mental or emotional
  disorders to ride and connect with horses and
  experience healing affects
• Clinically proven that horses calming demeanor
  affects humans brain wave patterns
• Working with these large receptive animals builds
  confidence and self esteem
• The ability for a child with a mental disorder to
  independently move the horse reassures him/her
  and leaves positive healing affects on the child
• Children with ADD become more focused as they
  concentrate on their horse as they lead it or
  groom it
• Autistic children who seem withdrawn begin to
  express themselves in a new way while riding

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Service

• Miniature Horses guide visually impaired
  individuals
• The Guide Horse Foundation was founded in 1999
• Display many benefits to owner
• Intelligent
• Not easily distracted
• Displays excellent eyesight with a natural eye
  for danger
• Good for people who have dog allergies
• Life expectancy averages 30-40 yrs
• Cost effective
• Can support physically disabled individuals as
  they rise sitting
• Have natural guiding instinct

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Conclusion

• The horse has been in existence with humans for
  millions of years and has served many purposes
  throughout history. Providing a range of food,
  protection, work, entertainment and
  companionship, the horse has definitely been
  beneficial to the survival and success of humans
  and that of modern society.

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Bibliography

• Brown, Julie. World of Equestrian Adventures and
  Horsemanship. Horse therapy - changing lives.
  http//www.wayofthehorse.org/Articles/horse-therap
  y.html March 6 2008
• Holme, T.R. Domestication of the Horse.
  http//www.geocities.com/gardenofdanu/The_Domestic
  ation_of_the_Horse.htm. March 3 2008
• March 3 2008
• Springs Reserve. Early Ranching.
  http//www.springspreserve.org/html/about_history_
  ranching.html
• Story of Farming. http//www.historylink101.com
  /lessons/farm-city/story-of-farming.htm.
• The Erie Canal. Clinton's Big Ditch
  http//www.eriecanal.org/ March 5 2008
• The Guide Horse Foundation. http//www.guidehorse.
  org. March 5 2008.
• U.S Department of Forest Service. Mules in the
  Forest Service http//www.historylink101.com/less
  ons/farm-city/story-of-farming.htm March 4 2008
• Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia. Domestication
  of the Horse. http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domes
  tication_of_the_horse March 4 2008
• Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Horses in
  Warfare. March 4 2008