Hyracotherium, or eohippus (dawn horse) as the scientists named it, first appeared on earth as a small, timid creature no bigger than a dog. It existed from 55 to 45 million years ago. It was 10 to 17 ¾ inches tall at the shoulder and had four toes on its front legs and three toes on its hind legs. Hyracotherium lived in a damp, hot jungle of huge cypress and mammoth trees. Here it fed on leaves as it roamed over the boggy ground. Small size and multi-toed feet kept Eohippus from sinking into the swamp. The remains of this original little horse have been found in such places as the Wasatch Range in Utah, the Wind River Basin in Wyoming, and in Europe.
During this time, some of the early horses migrated across a land bridge between Europe and North America. As the temperature and the climate changed, conifers began to outnumber deciduous trees. The forest thinned and grass became more prevalent. Mesohippus was larger thanHyracotherium, its teeth had further evolved, and it had three toes on its front legs. It was better suited to running fast to escape the enemies that pursued. Because the swamp had given way to soft ground, Mesohippus no longer needed his toes as much has Hyracotherium did. The lateral supporting toes decreased in size while the middle toe strengthened. The toes ended in little hooves but still had a pad behind them. This genus lived about 37 - 32 million years ago.
In this period, a totally new adaptive type of horse appeared. Merychippus evolved in North America and adapted to the hard grasses of the plains region. This was the beginning of the grazing horse of today. Merychippus had now increased in size to about 35 inches. These larger horses of the plains became increasingly gregarious and lived in herds. In order to chew the rough, hard grass, Merychippus developed complicated grinding teeth quite similar to present-day horses. Its lateral toes continued to diminish and no longer reached the ground. The main toe thickened and hardened for swift travel on the dry ground. The feet were without pads and the weight was carried on the enlarged single hoof on the central toe. Merychippus lived from 17 - 11 million years ago.
Fossils of Pliohippus are found at many late Miocene localities in Colorado, the Great Plains of the US (Nebraska and the Dakotas) and Canada. Species in this genus lived from 12-6 million years ago. In the late Miocene Epoch, one branch of horses crossed into Asia and quickly multiplied and spread to Europe. Meanwhile in North America, the horse developed into the final model. The pliohippus was the first true monodactyl (one-toed animal) of evolutionary history. Pliohippus had increasing need for speed to outrun its enemies, so the hoof evolved from the continued over-development of its middle toe. Its denture and extremities were the nearest approach to our present-day horses. This horse now spread into South America, as well as Asia, Europe, and Africa. In the last two million years, Pleistocene and present, Equus emerged as the large, magnificent creature we admire today. Finally about 8,000 years ago, Equus became extinct in the New World and was not to return until the Spanish brought horses to the Western Hemisphere in the 1,400's. For more information, visit the the University of Florida, Museum of Natural History site.
Domestication of the Horse
The first evidence of man riding horses as opposed to hunting them, dates back to 4000 B.C. From the items found with horses, it is apparent that rope, rawhide, antler and sinew were the first attempts at bridles and bits.
Between 3,000 and 2,000 BC in the Near East, the first domesticated draft horses began to emerge. These horses were capable of hauling chariots, carts and wagons, as well as being used for war.
Typically every continent in every era had a use for the horse. Early man used them as a scource of food, North American Indians used them for hunting and travelling. The middle east bred the finest, purest breed in the world, the arabian. In medival times, drafters emerged for jousting, games and war. Victorians used horses for racing, cultivating the farm, and travelling in fashion by carriage or on their back. Racing horses became a popular worldwide sport, whether it was buggy racing or mounted. They were used in wars the world over as mounts, pullers of artillary and medical vans.
Today, horses are mostly used for sport, showing, breeding and as leisurely companions or pets. With the breeds that are already established, and new improved breeding programs for cross breds, there is virtually a horse for everyone, from fallabellas, to shires.
Throughout history, horses have been everything to man, and no matter what time period it was, there was always people dedicated to this beautiful, magical creature.
Acknowledgements:
International Museum of the Horse
www.flmnh.ufl.edu
gpc.edu
