History of the Horse
Evolution of the Horse
Eohippus
Earliest ancestor to our present
horse
Small primitive horse about the
size of a fox
Elongated skull, arched back,
shortened tail, four functional toes
on front feet, and three toes on hind
feet
54 million years old
Eohippus
Evolution of the Horse
Mesohippus
Appeared when grasslands formed
Larger than Eohippus, teeth further
evolved, three toes on front feet, better
suited to out run enemies
Lateral supporting toes decreased in size
middle toe increased in strength
35million years old
Became extinct about 7 million years
ago
Evolution of the Horse
Merychippus
Evolved in North America
Adapted to the hard grasses of the plains
Beginning of the grazing horse of today
Size: 35in., gregarious and lived in herds
 developed grinding teeth similar to present
day horse, lateral toes disappeared, middle
toe thickened and hardened
20 million years old
Evolution of the Horse
Pliohippus
First true monodactyl (one-toed animal)
Teeth and limbs were the closest to
present-day horse
Spread into S. America, Asia, Europe, and
Africa
5 million years old
8,000 year ago Equus became extinct in
the Western Hemisphere and did not return
until the Spanish brought horses in 1400’s
Evolution of the Horse
Four Trends in the Line of Descent
Reduction in the number of toes
Increase in the size of the cheek teeth
Lengthening of the face
Increase in body size
Evolving along with the modern horse were
other species of Equus I.e. donkeys, onager,
and zebras
Evolution of the Horse
Przewalski Horse
Rediscovered in Mongolia in 1879
Wild horse who maintained itself in
Europe and Asia during 60 million years of
evolution
Small, heavily built, and yellowish
colored with an erect mane
Przewalski horse has 66 Chromosomes
and the domestic horse has 64
Uses of the Horse and Inventions
Early uses of horses transformed:
Travel
Warfare
Economics
Culture
Social Organization
Political Boundaries
Languages
History of the Horse Quiz 1
1. What species of Equus is considered to be the first
monodactyl?
2. Reduction in number of toes, lengthening of the face and
increase in body size are considered what?
3. This species was said to be the size of a fox.
4. This species lived 54 million years ago.
5. What species is said to be 5 million old?
6. What was the 2nd species we covered in class?
History of the Horse Quiz 1
7. What was the 3rd species we covered?
8. List 4 out of the 7 uses for horses.
9. What horse was rediscovered in 1879?
10. What was the difference in chromosomes between
the horse in #9, versus the modern day horse?
Uses of the Horse and Inventions
Egyptians
1680 BC Dynasty of Shepherd Kind
Invention of chariot
Replaced Asses
Egyptians had a large responsibility for the
spread of domesticated horse
100BC Greece
Siege of Troy
Developed the snaffle bit
Uses of the Horse and Inventions
Rome
Invented the curved bit
Horses used in the invasion of Britain
55BC
520-632 AD Mohammed
Arabs began to use horses
Wild horses of Asia (now extinct)
gave rise to the Arabian, Barb, and Turk
The Thoroughbred originated from
these stocks.
Horses in the United States
1492 Columbus arrived in America
No horses since 8000 years earlier,
before Indians
1493 Columbus brought horses back on
second voyage to West Indies
Conquistadors took horses from W.I. to S.
America and Mexico
1539 de Soto brought first horses into
what is now U.S.
Most Wild horses and Indian horses came
from the Spanish Missions
Horses in the United States
1600’s Indians began riding horses
How did horses change the Indians “way
of life”?
Colonist brought work horses from Europe
How were horses used in “Colonial Life”?
Plantation owners wanted smooth,
comfortable horses to ride.
 Horse racing became popular about this
time
1730, plantation owners started importing
English racehorses
Horses in the United States
1750 to 1850 Conestoga wagons were the
major means of moving freight
Cattle ranching became popular, horses
became an important method of working
cattle.
1861 Mail Service “Pony Express” began
Only operated for 18 months
Used during wars
Army maintained horses until WWII
Growth and Decline of Horses in the U. S.
“Golden Age” of horse extended from
the1890’s to the mechanization of
Agriculture.
 During this time everyone loved and
respected the horse for its invaluableness
1900- automobiles were a rich man’s
means of transportation
Growth and Decline of Horses in the U. S.
1908- Henry Ford produced a car for $825
Trucks, tractors, and improved highways
soon followed
The number of horse in the U.S. increased
until 1915
What was once a necessity to every
American’s everyday life is now used for
mostly recreation and sport
Growth and Decline of US Horse Production
25
20
15
Horses
10
Automobiles
and Tractors
5
0
1900
1915
1935
1960
1977
1988
Assignment
Create a time line from the beginning of the
Equus to the modern day horse. Include 2
facts for each of the era’s (Mesohippus,
Eohippus, etc) we covered.
Use a sheet of computer paper to complete
the assignment.