Surprising Facts About Horses and Horsemanship

1. Before modern times, breeds were not used

In the past, horses were bred for specific traits by humans, but not for the breeds that we know today. They were instead siloed into categories, depending on the horsemanship service they provided. There were horses used for war, which were fast and agile; horses for travel, which had a smooth ride and endurance; and horses used for work, which were large and strong.

2. Historically, war horses were small

Watching movies, it has become a popular misconception that the best horses in history for war were massive beasts, tall, stout, and intimidating. Instead, agility was the favored trait in a war horse. While they did need to be strong, in order to handle riders in armor, horses for war were rarely used for travel and almost never used as a beast of burden. They only needed to be fast and perform well in combat.

3. Horse whispering is a real training technique

Although it is considered a new field by some, natural horsemanship (or horse whispering) is real. It relies on developing trust with the animal in order to train them. It has gained popularity in the past twenty years, but aspects of the modern method have been around for centuries as a humane way to train. It still requires skill on the part of the trainer, but can be a great way to avoid stress in the animal.

4. There are three categories of modern horse breeds

The 300 plus breeds of horse today are grouped into three different categories. Cold bloods are work horses, strong and able to perform heavy labor. Hot bloods are those horses with endurance a speed, used for racing. Warm bloods are horses bred between the two groups that are great for riding and horsemanship skills.

5. The only true wild horse is the Asian Wild Horse

Also called Przewalski’s wild horse, after the Russian geographer who wrote about them, the Asian Wild Horse is the only breed of horse that has never been domesticated. The Brumbies of Australia and Mustangs of America are simply domesticated breeds that are feral. An endangered species, Asian Wild Horses are native to the steppes of central Asia.

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5 Reasons Why The Middle Ages Are Just So Cool

1. Tournaments

A great tradition throughout Europe during the Middle Ages was tournaments. Knights, skilled warriors, and nobility were invited to compete in military operation style games. People would come from all around the area to watch and the festivities would last for days. It was a great test of athleticism and skill and a great opportunity for the community to come together.

2. Chivalry

The romantic ideas of chivalry are only associated with the later period of the Middle Ages, but they are still responsible for the codes of honor that we still look to today. They included justice, courage, courtesy, and helping those that can’t help themselves. It is in stark contrast to the brutal methods previously used, which focused on might equals right.

3. Horsemanship

In the Middle Ages, horses were more than just for show. They were used for moving goods, working farms, by the military, and for going anywhere over a long distance. For this reason, many excelled in horsemanship. It is almost a lost art, since our modern society rarely relies on the noble horse. However, in the right hands, horses of the Middle Ages were adept and skilled creatures and things of beauty.

4. Storytelling

The tradition of storytelling dates back to the beginning of man’s ability to speak, but in the Middle Ages, storytellers were a celebrated and respected part of society. Called bards or troubadours at that time, they would travel through the continent, stopping at court, in villages, and in country estates to share their talents with the community, usually being paid handsomely. They were the major entertainers of their time, before printing presses made stories readily available in books.

5. Higher learning

Most people think of the period between the collapse of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance as a time of ignorance and darkness. In fact, there was much collaboration and intellectual advancement in this period. The world’s oldest universities were chartered in the Middle Ages. They fostered much learning and scientific advancements. The next time you cheer for your favorite mascot, you can thank those in the Middle Ages.

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