History of Horses

Horses Facts

• There are approximately 75 million all over the world

• The height of a horse can be measured using hands. 1 hand is the same as 4 inches.

• They have a sharp sense of hearing, direction and smell. The skin is actually very sensitive and it will respond quickly slightest touch.

• Popular ones are Marengo, Moifaa, Bucephalus, Justin Morgan, etc..

• The markings on the horse's body either a star, white face, stripe, white muzzle or blaze, etc.

The first text was written during 1400 BC regarding horses was produced. The text mentions training of horses for chariots. Xenophon was believed to have written The Art of Horsemanship by about 360 BC and therein stated horseback riding, psychology and care for horses. It is believed to be relevant still.

During Ice Age, they roamed every ground excluding Antarctica. They went missing mysteriously during this era; a theory stated that the disappearance was due to migration of these animals towards the west through land bridges on Siberia.

After Charlemagne time and around 4th century, horses with stirrups and saddles were known. This is an Asiatic invention; Asians believed to be the first who tamed and rode horses. It started the way of the mounted knights' development. Around 1519 AD these animals reappeared in Northern America and were brought by Spanish conquerors to Mexico

Even with these historical reviews, there are other historical facts being presented by other countries. It is known that Persians, Chinese and Assyrians were skillful horse riders.

• Brahmans of India regarded themselves as the first horse riders. But the Chinese were believed to be the true horsemen; way back in 4000 BC, they started harnessing them, Chinese were also involved in selective conformation and breeding of horses as early as 1000 BC.

• Hittites of the Mediterranean used them for wars around 1,600 BC

• Assyrians were the first race among eastern Mediterranean to have used horses with a load; this resembles the saddle of today.

• Egyptians used chariot horses to extend their empire; this is way back 1650 BC. The kinds of horses used in Egypt are much different from the Arabian breed.

• Greeks mythology presented them as sea creatures ruled by their god Posiedon.

• Long ago, many horses died when they ventured in Kenya because of a horse disease known as Trypanosomiasis. The Ponies which survived Kenya and became the first horses in East Africa.

Though horses have become domesticated long ago, a lot of misconceptions appear about their history. B. MacFadden from University of Florida, presents some records from his "Science" journal

• Around 20 million years ago, they changed in size. Some got larger and others minimized to sizes of dogs. These animals didn't simply create bigger.

• Prehistoric horses did not eat leaf. They learn to eating both leafy materials and grasses.

• The horse's fossils in North America extinct about 55 to 10,000 million years ago. They were believed to be the first horses.

MacFadden further mentioned that a clear knowledge of the records of their fossils is vital to represent their evolution.

They have been used for various purposes. One vital mean of these animals is a means of transportation. They are known for being used in agriculture and wars. Nowadays , horses are employed for pleasure and competitions for their gracefulness, agility, speed and strength of