1. Introduction to Equine Science

2. 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)

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

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

10. 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

11. 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

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

13. 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

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

15. 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

16. 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)

17. 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

18. Millions of Horses, Autos, Tractors

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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).