Introduction to Equine Science

Domestication Changing the natural behavior of an animal to suit the needs of humans Condition to humans and human activities Train to ride, pull, etc Train to stand (instead of run) in situations that instincts tell them to flee (battle, predators, etc)

First Domestication of the Horse Originated about 50,000 years ago First used for food Cro-magnum would herd them off a cliff and use for meat, hide, bones, etc 4,000 BCE first domesticated in Persia/China- kept for meat and maybe milk

Domestication First used for labor around 2,000BCE in Mesopotamia Prior to horses used ass and ox (more docile and easier to domesticate) Soon replaced ass and ox in pulling chariots (faster) Probably controlled by a nose ring

Domestication Why did man begin to ride the horse? Faster means of transportation More convenient The riding of horses allowed man to travel farther than ever before and increased- Cultures expanded farther War between tribes increased Trade routes were established

Hippology and War Hippology is the study of horses The use of horses in war (mounted cavalry) probably led to the serious study of equitation Ability of the rider to ride correctly, etc

Domestication & Early Use Nose rings were replaced by what? Snaffle Bit Who invented snaffle bit? Romans ~1500 B.C. First time reins were on each side of the neck Stirrups and saddles still unknown at this time

Domestication & Early Use Who developed the Curb Bit? Romans When were the first recorded geldings? ~800 B.C. Wealth began to be attributed to # of horses owned Clothing item invented in this time due to horses? Trousers

Domestication & Early Use ~700 B.C. chariotry declined Riding skills improved Mounted patrols increased Horsemanship was developed and studied ~450 - 420 B.C. Ancient rodeos were performed Steer throwing had been recorded

Domestication & Early Use As early as 55 B.C. Horses taken into foreign countries by Roman military Arabs began to study horsemanship ~570 A.D. Before this, they depended on? Camels Why did they stop using camels? Devastated in war

Domestication & Early Use By 1500’s what had happened to horses? Types and breeds were developed due to Specialized needs (draft vs riding, war vs carriage) Region and Climate Who first brought horses west? Columbus 500 years ago Horses are not native to America (none here before Columbus) Haiti

Domestication & Early Use Breeding stations set up in Caribbean to produce more horses for exploration Who first brought horses to Mexico? Cortez - 1519 Thousands more to come in conquest of Mexico Who first brought horses into the interior of America? Desoto - 1539

History of Horses in the US Horses from Spanish Missions (churches) are thought to be the foundation stock (relatives) of the wild plains horses and horses used by American Indians

Colonists’ Horses Heavy Draft horses were brought by European colonists’ to pull heavy loads (wagons, plows, etc)

Horses of the Southeast US Large plantations of the southeast US created the need for saddle horses As a result horse racing became a popular sport

Golden Age of the Horse ~1890’s until the large scale mechanization of agriculture The rise of mechanization and commerce led to a rise in the number of horses a record high of nearly 21.5 million horses in 1915 (USA only) Compared to around 6.9 million today (USA)

The Horseless Carriage Henry Ford starts producing the first affordable automobile in 1908 This ushered in the age of mechanization Leads to a decrease in the number of horses Not until 1950’s do the number of automobiles and tractors surpass the number of horses Horse numbers reached an all time low of 3.1 million in 1960

Millions of Horses, Autos, Tractors

Replacing the Horse As the country became more urbanized and the automobile becomes more popular the need for horses as a means of transportation decreases The number of tractors used on farms passes the number of horses used in 1954

The Horse Today Most horses today are light horse breeds popular for pleasure riding and recreation Texas, Oklahoma, and California have the highest horse populations The Quarter horse, Paint, and Thoroughbred are the three largest breeds

The future of the Horse Horse populations are rebounding as they become more popular for recreational riding because people have more time and money for leisure activities The need for horses for recreation and sport will be the dominant factor in the future of the horse industry in NC (and the USA).