Evolution Of Horse Breeds Essay

Research Question: How did the different breeds help develop our history, and what did they contribute?

Hook: Most people do not realize how much horses have contributed to our survival as a species.

Introduction: Most people do not realize how much horses have contributed to our survival as a species. Different horse breeds have helped us advance in different ways. But how? How have different breeds shaped our culture that we know today? While reading this book, I invite you to think about this critically. Most people do not realize how much horses have contributed to our survival as a species. By domesticating the early horse to plow the fresh soil, to the hoof beats of a Thoroughbred galloping down the track, horses have long been a unifying factor of the developments of all people across the world.

According to Horse Channel, Arabians were very important for the survival of a group of people who lived in Arabia, the Bedouins. Some people today believe that the Arabian is the oldest breed in the world, and that all succeeding breeds are products of crossbreeding the Arabian and early European breeds. The Arabian is a very

durable horse. Because of this, they were ideal for surviving in the dry, sandy, and hot conditions of the deserts in Arabia. Although they are not used for this purpose today, Arabians are very popular in the sport of endurance trail riding. Their close bonds with their owners definitely still shows in the present day. Arabians are extremely outgoing, trusting, and sociable horses. In conclusion, Arabians remain a very important part of how many different breeds developed and expanded.
Fun fact: Most Arabians have one less lumbar vertebrae (five instead of six) and one less pair of ribs (seventeen instead of eighteen) than the average horse?
While the Arabian was essential to the lives of the Bedouins, Friesian Equine talks about the importance of the Friesian. Friesians originated in Friesland, Netherlands. Initially bred as a heavy riding horse, they stand between 14.2 hands- 17 hand high, and are most known for carrying knights into battle during the Middle Ages. Their size allowed them to support the weight, but they were also very nimble and responsive. Horses provided a significant advantage when going to war. The rider is a harder target to hit than on foot, and horses are a much faster and efficient form of transportation.
After the need for heavy war horses died down, Friesians came very close to becoming extinct. In fact, there were only two Friesians left, one male and one female. After working hard to increase the breed’s population, they were soon bred as a lighter riding horse by crossing it with the Andalusian, a Spanish riding breed. Soon, these new Friesians were popular in Spanish riding schools as dressage horses. Friesians are still popular in dressage today, and are even used as carriage horses. In fact, Friesians were popular as carriage horses to pull hearses so that the hearse, attire of the carriage drivers, and horse were all black to honor the dead. In conclusion, the gaits, color, and versatility of the Friesian has made it suitable for being a riding and carriage horse.
Fun fact: In some parts of the world, it is illegal to “dock” a Friesian’s tail. Docking refers to the practice of cutting off the whole tail to just below the dock, where the hair grows from.
A third source, the Lipizzan Association of North America, discusses the Lipizzaner’s development as a Spanish riding and military horse. The Lipizzaner originated in Austria and became an extremely popular breed in The Spanish Riding School of Vienna. This is because of their muscular build and ability to perform high level dressage movements, such as the Levade and Capriole. The Riding School values classical horsemanship, and tries to keep their teaching methods as pure as possible. Like the Friesian, the Lipizzaner was used in the military for its sturdy build and agility.
The Lipizzaner had a major cultural influence in Europe. Initially, only the Austrian monarchy family, the Hapsburgs, had possession of Lipizzaner stud farms. Over the next hundred years or so, Lipizzaners gradually became available to other parts of the world, including the United States. Their trainability, flashy movement, and temperament make them excellent riding horses. Many people also use them as carriage horses. In conclusion to this third article, Lipizzaners made a mark on European culture, which eventually spread to other parts of the world. Today, they are still regarded as one of the most noble and pure horse breeds.
Fun fact: Lipizzaner foals are born with a black or brown coat that gradually gets to be a very, very light grey by the time they are six or seven years old.
My fourth source, an article by Equine Gateway, states that Thoroughbreds are a very interesting breed to research the history of. What is interesting about the modern day Thoroughbred lineage is that all male Thoroughbred lines in the world can be traced back to three Arabian stallions; the Darley Arabian, the Byerley Turk, and the Godolphin Arabian. These three stallions were bred with native English mares, thought to be Scottish Galloway horses, to produce an incredibly athletic animal. The result was a horse that could carry a good amount of weight over a long distance at very fast speeds. This breed was used in the sport of racing.
As many people know, modern day Thoroughbreds are seen mostly on the race track. Although this is true, Thoroughbreds can make excellent dressage horses, as well as eventers and even show jumpers. Their athletic ability makes them a versatile breed that can do almost whatever is asked of them. They are spirited and lightweight like Arabians. This makes them suitable for the more extreme and physically demanding sports. To summarize my source’s information, the Thoroughbred is an extremely athletic and unique breed. Their development has revolutionized the sports industry. They were one of the first breeds to be used as commercial entertainment, and not just for a working purpose.
Fun fact: Thoroughbreds are bred to have bigger hearts, nostrils, and lungs than other horses. This makes them more likely to succeed on the racetrack because they can pump more blood and take in more air.
My final source, the American Morgan Horse Association, discusses the Morgan.

Morgans, like Thoroughbreds, can be traced back to a specific horse that started the breed. The “foundation sire” for the Morgan was a stallion named Figure, owned by Justin Morgan. Figure was known for his versatility and producing a breed capable of almost anything, from pulling, to working as a cavalry horse, to endurance, to general riding. Morgans have developed to become a well-muscled horse with thick necks, strong hooves, and a good work ethic. Today, most Morgans are used for endurance, showing, trail riding, dressage, eventing, and as an all-around riding horse. In conclusion, Morgans became a very versatile horse that descended from a capable stallion, Figure. Figure produced a breed that was small but mighty, and could be used for almost any

purpose.
Fun fact: Figure ended up outliving Justin Morgan!
Conclusion idea:
I found many different perspectives and ideas relating to how different horse breeds contributed to human history and survival. Each breed that I studied and researched had a different purpose and job. Horses are an underestimated factor when considering how technology and practices developed and changed over the years. I found a lot of evidence that explained how each breed collaborated with humans and helped them accomplish their goals. These goals range from forming a stronger military by riding horses, to carrying on traditions of classical horsemanship and practices.
Works Cited
Arabian Horse Profile. 14 October 14, 2015. Web.
The History of the Friesian Horse. 14 October 14, 2015. Web.
Origins and History of the Lipizzan Horse. 14 October 2015. Web.
Thoroughbred Horse History and the Three Foundation Sires. 14 October 2015. Web.
Origin of the Morgan Horse. 14 October 14, 2015. Web.