Early History of Horse Domestication

During the Upper Paleolithic era (50,000 to 12,000 years ago), wild horses were prevalent across the globe. Notably, the Lascaux cave in France, dating back 17,000 years, features over 6,000 animal paintings, with horses being the most frequently depicted.

Our ancestors were undoubtedly captivated by these creatures. Research indicates that human hunting practices and competition with other species led to the extinction of wild horses in most regions by the sixth millennium BC. However, one area where they continued to thrive was the Eurasian Steppes.

While horsemeat is considered taboo in many cultures today, prehistoric humans relied on horse meat and milk for sustenance. Interestingly, horses were initially domesticated for their meat and milk, much like cattle and sheep, rather than for riding.

The domestication of horses occurred in the Western Eurasian Steppes around the fourth millennium BC. These animals were well-suited to endure the harsh winters of the Steppe, and their strong hooves could break through frozen streams, providing vital access to water. Horses flourished in environments unsuitable for other livestock, making them ideal for domestication.

Stallions and mares typically lived in separate herds. Early herders in the Steppes took advantage of this by domesticating the more docile mares, with only a few stallions being tamed.

Why does this matter? Archaeologists in the mid-20th century pointed to the prevalence of mare bones and the scarcity of stallion bones as evidence that people in the Eurasian Steppes were riding horses, suggesting that early humans must have ridden them as they domesticated the animals.

How could these early herders manage large numbers of horses otherwise?

Archaeologists have also studied Native American tribes, such as the Comanche, who became adept at horseback riding shortly after the Spanish introduced horses to North America. Researchers speculate that a similar process must have occurred in the Eurasian Steppes, where humans began riding horses after close contact with them.

However, one must be cautious with this argument. The horses of the 16th century and their ancestors from 6,000 years ago were significantly different. Humans selectively bred out aggressive traits over thousands of years, meaning that early domesticated horses were much closer to their wild relatives than the horses ridden by the Comanche.

In 2009, the discovery of mare milk residue in pottery from a 6,000-year-old archaeological site in northern Kazakhstan shifted our understanding of early horse riding.

The Early Riders Who Tamed Horses: The Botai Culture

The archaeological site in question is known as Botai. Excavations have revealed that 99.9% of the animal remains found there were horse bones, indicating that the Botai culture, which thrived from 3700 to 3100 BC, relied solely on horse meat for survival.

Was there additional evidence from Botai that indicated horse riding? Archaeologist David W. Anthony, author of the acclaimed The Horse, the Wheel and Language, conducted significant research on this topic. He observed wear patterns on the molars of horses unearthed from the site, comparing them to those of modern domestic horses.

The findings were strikingly similar. Scientists believe that the wear observed on the Botai horses’ teeth resulted from the use of bits, a mouthpiece used by riders to control their horses.

This suggests that the Botai people were indeed horse riders. Early bits were typically crafted from bone or antler, unlike the metal ones used today, which explains the absence of surviving artifacts from Botai. However, evidence of bits made from antler bones has been found at other archaeological sites in the Steppes, although they date to after 2500 BC.

Anthony’s work significantly influenced the field by suggesting that the Botai culture was among the first to domesticate horses, aligning with earlier theories that linked horse riding to early domestication.

But is that the end of the story?

Not quite.

Subsequent research revealed two major flaws in earlier conclusions.

1. A 2018 DNA analysis indicated that the Botai horses were ancestors of the Przewalski’s horse (Equus przewalskii), a species distinct from the domestic horse (Equus caballus). The short and stocky Przewalski’s horse is a feral species akin to the Mustang, and researchers concluded that Botai horses contributed only 2.7% of the DNA in today’s domestic horses, suggesting that domestication occurred elsewhere.
2. Additionally, a 2021 study of dental remains from individuals buried at Botai found no evidence of mare’s milk consumption.

Despite these limitations, Anthony’s observations regarding bit wear were proven accurate, indicating that the Botai people used reins and rode horses.

However, not all scholars are in agreement with these findings. Some argue that horseback riding occurred much later.

The Late Rider Theory: Horses and Chariots

Historian Robert Drews asserts that the earliest representations of humans riding horses originate from Mesopotamia and Anatolia, not the Steppes, dating to around 2000 BC.

Drews contends that in the ancient Near East, horses were viewed as fast, exotic creatures, and riding began as a form of entertainment rather than a practical means of transport.

> “In the Near East, horseback riding seems to have started as a sport, or an athletic challenge, toward the end of the third millennium BC. A rider was evidently proud of his ability to ride such a speedy animal but had little control over it, merely managing to stay seated as the horse galloped.” - Robert Drews, Historian

Drews further posits that the advent of the spoked wheel chariot was closely tied to the development of horseback riding. He argues that early riding experiences were less than satisfactory, leading to the use of horses in chariots to capitalize on their speed.

Who was responsible for the invention of chariots?

That credit goes to the Sintashta culture, which existed between 2200 and 1900 BC near the southern Ural mountains, straddling modern-day Russia and Kazakhstan. This civilization is known for its chariot burials.

The Sintashta people were also adept horse breeders. A 2021 study analyzing 273 ancient horse genomes revealed that the horses from this culture had replaced nearly every other breed by 2000 BC, exhibiting enhanced stress tolerance, endurance, and obedience, traits that made them highly desirable.

This research supports Drews’ theory of horse riding being linked to the widespread use of chariots. The historian argues that it was not until the first millennium BC that horseback riding became common as observed in motifs from Europe and Asia, and that the later invention of saddles and stirrups indicates that the art of horse riding developed gradually over centuries.

We find ourselves with two competing theories, each backed by compelling arguments. Let’s summarize the key points and assess when humans began riding horses.

Early or Late Rider: Who Crossed the Finish Line First?

The early rider and late rider theories present conflicting timelines, with nearly 2000 years between them. Here are essential points regarding the early rider theory:

• The early rider hypothesis posits that humans began riding horses shortly after their domestication.
• The most compelling evidence supporting this theory is the wear patterns on the teeth of horses from the Botai culture (3700 to 3100 BC).
• However, the horses from Botai were not the ancestors of the domestic horse but rather of the Przewalski’s horse.

Now, for the late rider theory:

• This hypothesis suggests that humans started riding horses 2000 years after their initial domestication. The earliest representations of riding are found in the Near East, where it was seen as a sport.
• Horseback riding is closely linked with the development of the spoked wheel chariot. Genetic analyses trace the modern horse’s ancestry to the Sintashta culture (2200 to 1900 BC), whose horses demonstrated improved endurance and docility.
• Widespread horse riding emerged after the first millennium BC, as indicated by European and Asian motifs. The later advent of riding equipment, such as saddles and stirrups, suggests that horse riding evolved gradually over millennia.

Both theories have strengths. However, the early rider theory appears more convincing. David Anthony’s research on dental erosion in Botai horses serves as substantial evidence in favor of early riding. The wear patterns of Botai horses are comparable to those of modern horses, suggesting they were ridden.

Could the first riders have utilized a bridle and a hide as a saddle? It seems plausible. Horses are swift creatures, unlike traditional livestock, and managing a herd of horses in the harsh Steppe winters would likely necessitate basic riding skills.

While the late rider theory is based on artifacts from the Near East, it overlooks the fact that this region was not the first to domesticate horses. The Steppe herders possessed the necessary experience and knowledge that earlier cultures lacked.

The late rider theory’s connection between horses and chariots is not entirely unfounded. Chariots were indeed military equipment, and the idea of horseback warfare may have emerged alongside chariot development.

However, it is vital to differentiate between horse riding and mounted cavalry. Scholars who support the late rider theory have raised doubts regarding the concept of Bronze Age horseback raiders targeting agrarian communities, and they are correct in this assertion.

Horseback warfare may have been a later development in history, but this does not imply that riding itself was a later innovation.

The first horse riders were likely herders in the Western Eurasian Steppes, dating back to the fourth millennium BC, who used basic equipment to control horses over short distances. The Sintashta culture later bred horses with more desirable traits, enabling longer journeys in the second millennium BC.

Which theory resonates more with you?

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.

Horses have captivated human interest throughout history. Ancient leaders revered their strength and agility. One notable figure, Emperor Han Wudi of China, was particularly intrigued by a breed of horse that appeared to sweat blood.

If you're interested in learning more about why these horses caught his attention, check out the following story.

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<h2>The Forgotten War Over Blood Sweating Horses</h2>

<div><h3>How a Greco-Chinese conflict gave birth to the Silk Road and changed international trade.</h3></div>

<div><p>prateekdasgupta1.medium.com</p></div>

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