1. EQUI 3644 Horse Science CHAPTER 1

2. Objectives: 1. List the evolutionary horse-like animals 2. Identify the position of the horse in the zoological scheme 3. Describe how humans have used and continue to use the horse 4. Give the scientific name for the horse and three of it’s close relatives 5. List four evolutionary trends of the horse and the geologic era in which they occurred 6. Match the geologic era to appropriate horse/horse-like fossil(s)

3. Objectives 6. Identify the Roman influence on the use of the horse 7. Describe the affect of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance on the use of the horse 8. Name 3 horses in mythology or legend 9. Name 3 famous horses of film 10. Discuss the use and decline of the horse in American agriculture 11. Identify factors that changed the use of the horse in the twentieth century

4. The odd-toed ungulates  Horses belong to the Perissodactyla, the odd-toed ungulates  This group includes horses, rhinos and tapirs today White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) © KHW © 2008 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS

5.  The genus Equus includes horses, zebra and asses  The last remaining branch of a diverse group of equids  Similar to the status of Homo sapiens, the last remaining species of a once diverse group of Hominids  The evolution of the horse is much better documented than ours  The fossil record is very complete Equus © 2008 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS

6. Classification  Kingdom: Animalia  Phylum: Chordata  Class: Mammalia  Order: Perissodactyla  Family: Equidae  Genus: Equus

7. Trends in the evolution of the horses  Increased size  Reduced number of toes and longer legs  A stiffer back Equus Merychippus 20Ma © 2008 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS

8. Teeth for grazing  Larger teeth and a larger skull to hold them © 2008 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS

9. Trends in the evolution of the horses  The trends correspond to changes in the climate and vegetation of the Earth over the past 55 million years,  combined with the arms race between predators and prey. From…….. rich rainforest which covered most of the Earth in which the horses ancestors browsed on leaves and hid from predators. To ……. open savannah grassland where the modern horses grazed grass and had to run from predators. © 2008 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS

10. From ladders to bushes  The view of evolution in Darwin’s day was that of Gradualism  One species slowly transforming into another Equus Pliohippus Merychippus Mesohippus Hyracotherium (aka Eohippus) Orohippus © 2008 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS

11. © 2008 Paul Billiet ODWSODWS

12. Classification  Species  Equus assinus – true donkeys and asses of Northern Africa  Equus burchelli – Plains zebra of Africa  Equus caballus – the true horse  Equus grevyi – Grevy’s zebra, most horse-like zebra.  Equus hemionus – the desert adapted onager of Asia and the Mideast  Equus przewalski – the oldest living species of the horse. Found in Mongolia.  Equus zebra – mountain zebra of South Africa

13. Fossil Record  Eohippus Paleocene epoch

14. Fossil Record  Messohippus Oligocene epoch

15. Fossil Record  MerychippusMiocene epoch

16. Fossil Record  PliohippusPliocene epoch

17. Fossil Record  Equus caballus Pleistocene epoch to modern era

18. Missing link????  Przewalski’s Horse  Determined to be oldest living equus species. Comparable to cave paintings of horses.  12- 14 hands tall, dun color, light muzzle, short, upstanding mane, dark streak on it’s back and dark legs.  Never been effectively tamed, can be vicious if threatened

19. Assigned reading:  Equine Hybrids Equine Hybrids

20. Review  Kingdom:  Phylum:  Class:  Order:  Family:  Genus:  Species:  Genus: equus  Species:  True donkeys and asses of Northern Africa  Plains zebra of Africa  The true horse  Grevy’s zebra, most horse-like zebra.  The desert adapted onager of Asia and the Mideast  The oldest living species of the horse. Found in Mongolia.  Mountain zebra of South Africa

21. Review  List in order the evolution of the horse:  A.  B  C  D  List in order of evolution the two horses currently found on earth  A  B  Define ‘open toothed’  What was the primary indicator paleontologists used to determine equine ancestry?  What was a major factor in equine evolution?  Horses belong to the order Perissodactyla, the _______ _____ ___________.  Discuss "hemiclonal transmission". As part of your discussion, sketch the meiotic process in the female.  What is meiotic drive?

22. Early use  Source of food – hunted for meat and hides  Early Equus species domesticated, donkeys – 4000 – 3000 B.C.  Historical artifacts of donkey domestication as early as 3400 B.C.  The horse became preferred because it was the fastest – not just running, but at a walk also.  Early harness – similar to an ox yoke – less than ideal  Development of ‘yoke saddle’ that took pressure off the throat  Development of the bridle and bit, brought the horse to the battlefield

23. Early use  Riding – came after the use of the horse as a draft animal to pull war chariots  Scythians:  Nomadic southern plainsmen from the Russian Steppe. Used the horse as a mounted platform from which to fire arrows.  First record of gelding a stallion  Wealth counted in number of horses, often were buried with their horses.

24. Early use  Romans  Went from infantry force using chariots to cavalry forces.  Reason for this: their enemies were primarily mounted forces  Chinese  Chariot warhorses – went to cavalry in response to enemies.  See: Scythians

25. Dark and Middle ages  “Knights in shining armor” War horses or chargers, Heavy draft-like horses to carry weight of Knight and his armor.  Most common – common horses used as draft animal for agricultural work.  Chariots gave way to wagons  Hunting by aristocracy. Early ‘hunters’ were developed

26. The Renaissance  Study of the natural world – horses being just one part. An important part because the use of ‘horsepower’ in it’s truest sense.  Scientific study of the horse anatomy.  Training became a disciplined art.  Early carriages: nobility and wealthy.

27. Mythology  Pegasus  Centaur  Unicorn Unicorn  Trojan horse  Four horsemen of the apocalypse.  What are they?

28. Four horsemen  WhitePestilence  RedWar  BlackFamine  Pale (Palomino?)Death

29. Horses in the U.S.  Early horse was extinct in the American Continents (likely due to the last ice age; Wisconsin Glacial Period).  Re-introduced to the Americas by early Spanish.  Early Indians would hunt stray horses  Plains Indians became mounted cavalry  Colonization and settlement required ‘horsepower.’  Mules developed – cross between a jack donkey and a mare

30. Horses in the U.S.  Draft horses, most dominant type of horse in the Americas up to nearly WWII.  Used for:  Military  Fire protection  Transportation  Agriculture  Mining – (pit ponies)  Descendants of the Spanish horses – commonly called Mustangs were important in the development of the American West – ranching

31. Horses in the U.S.  Recreation  As the need for ‘horsepower’ decreased the rise of the pleasure horse increased.  The late 20 th century saw a switch from draft to light horses  Rodeo  Racing  Shows

32. Iconic horses in history  Black Jack – the last horse to wear the US brand………. Kennedy Funeral 1963

33. Horses in the U.S.  Movies and entertainment  Tom Mix and Tony  Gene Autry and Champion  Roy Rogers and Trigger  Lone Ranger and Silver, Tonto and Scout  Mr. Ed  Black Beauty  The Black Stallion  Flicka  Etc. etc………………