Medicinal cannabis: There was a time when horses had a high old time on dope
A product called Cannabis Americana was once the go-to substance for treating colic, with even the US War Department recommending its use.
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History
Articles on the history of horses and more.
The Franco-German (dressage) war
French and German master equestrians clashed in mid to late-century over the proper theory and practice of dressage and equitation, particularly as they pertained to the training of military horses and riders.
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Genetic links to Siberian and Eastern Asian horses found in wild herd in North Dakota
Study findings lead to an exciting hypothesis about a link between Siberian—East Asian and part of North American horses and a new route of exporting horses to North America.
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Horse dentistry goes back more than 3000 years, study concludes
As herders began to use metal bits, they also developed a method for extracting troublesome teeth, similar to the way most veterinary dentists would remove them today.
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Pompeii excavations allows plaster cast to be taken of long-dead horse
The horse was among the many victims of the Mount Vesuvius eruption in 79AD.
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Earliest evidence of bit use found, dating back 4700 years
The authors propose that the wear on the tooth of the equid was made with a soft bit, likely made from rope or wood.
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Fresh research shows how horse domestication helped shape humanity
Several waves of migration were behind this crucial population shift, much of it driven by humankind’s emerging relationship with the horse.
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New recognition for mighty war horse Reckless
Larger-than-life, 1000-pound statue of Sergeant Reckless to be unveiled at the Kentucky Horse Park.
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Even tufts of hair remained from ancient African horse burial
“It was clear that the horse was an intentional burial, which was super fascinating,” said anthropologist Michele Buzon.
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Classic whodunnit: First domestic horses might have arisen outside Central Asia
Researchers are not ruling out the possibility that modern domesticates originated outside Central Asia.
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Why it’s so hard to unravel the mysterious origins of domestic horses
Findings published this week challenge what we thought we knew about one of the only “wild” horse species left today: the Przewalski’s horse.
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Dramatic genetic findings reshape history of horse domestication
Credible evidence for horse domestication goes back 5500 years, but genetic testing reveals a remarkable twist to the story.
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Light cast on selective horse breeding from 2700 years ago
Iron Age Scythian breeders wanted a robust horse with good forelimbs, and a good udder on the mares.
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Rare heritage protection for WWI war horse’s grave
“Blackie’s close association with his master reflects the strong bonds shared between thousands of soldiers and their horses on the western front.”
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Donkeys feature in rare Arabian rock art
“The site offers important new evidence for the evolution of Arabian rock art.”
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Five toes in each front hoof? They’ve been there all along, say scientists
“These findings show that today’s horse is not truly monodactyl (single-toed)”,
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War Animal memorial pays homage to New Zealand’s War Horses
Animals were used by all sides, often press-ganged into service; they had no malice and worked tirelessly alongside their master no matter what nation they served.
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Challenging science at the dawn of horse domestication
Many questions remain around the earliest examples of horse domestication.
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Superb ancient “lion” sculpture is in fact a horse, say researchers
The 2300-year-old sculpture from the Iberian peninsula appears to depict tack, including a riding blanket.
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Role of horses in rising human inequality charted by researchers
Scientists saw disparities in wealth increase with the rise of agriculture, specifically the domestication of plants and large animals.
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