At first mention of the wild yet beautiful creatures that can be seen roaming about the rolling fields of the west, you may take note of their great size, perhaps the curious personality that they have in things, or even their dedication to the work that they help with. However, how often do you stop to think about where these horses came from or why we've been blessed to have them as loyal companions now? Well folks, today will be the day that you'll be learning more about the history behind horses and how they've come to be in these parts!
Something that may initially come as a shock to you, as it did to me when I first heard it, is that the native North American horses that used to live here hundreds of thousands of years ago actually went extinct, such as the Equus scotti and Haringtonhippus francisci, along with many other mammals. Although we aren't able to narrow it down to one thing that ultimately caused these species to go extinct, a number of ideas, such as land loss, climate change, and being hunted by humans, have been suggested to be big possibilities. Evidence actually suggests that those horses were in fact shrinking in their size, which is a common result in many mammals due to lack of resources and the climate.
When Spanish conquistadors came to the Americas in the 1500s, they brought along a number of horses, most notably horses like the Spanish Barb and Spanish Mustang, influencing a vast number of modern breeds we know now. Due to this, the horses that are considered wild now are descendants of those introduced by those colonists, not the descendants of the original native species.
However, some believe that there was a small amount of horses that lived among and nearby Native Americans before Europeans made contact with the Americas. Many Indigenous people recall stories and traditions surrounding these animals before they encountered the Spaniards, having a strong horse culture within their groups. From there, many settlers and tribes were able to acquire horses through trade and sales.
As early wars such as the American Revolution and Civil War began, so did the impact on the horse population across the country, as wild horses were rounded up to use for cavalry and artillery, causing many fatalities. They were also hunted for meat or for sport, and it wasn't until 1971 that the Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act was signed by the President, protecting wild horses and burros from being captured, branded, or killed.
In the end, the history of horses in the wild west is not as straightforward or clear as you may think, but rather a story shaped by a number of events through various influences over the course of time. Horses have played a very significant impact on the region, showing their importance and how they're a lasting symbol in the wild west! Feel free to check out the Lexicon on site for extra information on specific breeds of horses that roam the wild west, including the famous Mustang and more!
Something that may initially come as a shock to you, as it did to me when I first heard it, is that the native North American horses that used to live here hundreds of thousands of years ago actually went extinct, such as the Equus scotti and Haringtonhippus francisci, along with many other mammals. Although we aren't able to narrow it down to one thing that ultimately caused these species to go extinct, a number of ideas, such as land loss, climate change, and being hunted by humans, have been suggested to be big possibilities. Evidence actually suggests that those horses were in fact shrinking in their size, which is a common result in many mammals due to lack of resources and the climate.
When Spanish conquistadors came to the Americas in the 1500s, they brought along a number of horses, most notably horses like the Spanish Barb and Spanish Mustang, influencing a vast number of modern breeds we know now. Due to this, the horses that are considered wild now are descendants of those introduced by those colonists, not the descendants of the original native species.
However, some believe that there was a small amount of horses that lived among and nearby Native Americans before Europeans made contact with the Americas. Many Indigenous people recall stories and traditions surrounding these animals before they encountered the Spaniards, having a strong horse culture within their groups. From there, many settlers and tribes were able to acquire horses through trade and sales.
As early wars such as the American Revolution and Civil War began, so did the impact on the horse population across the country, as wild horses were rounded up to use for cavalry and artillery, causing many fatalities. They were also hunted for meat or for sport, and it wasn't until 1971 that the Wild and Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act was signed by the President, protecting wild horses and burros from being captured, branded, or killed.
In the end, the history of horses in the wild west is not as straightforward or clear as you may think, but rather a story shaped by a number of events through various influences over the course of time. Horses have played a very significant impact on the region, showing their importance and how they're a lasting symbol in the wild west! Feel free to check out the Lexicon on site for extra information on specific breeds of horses that roam the wild west, including the famous Mustang and more!
