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The dog-sized hyracotherium was the earliest ancestor of the horse, living about 55 million years ago. The hyracotherium was a herbivore, and it lived in North American rain forests.

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Horses crossed the Bering Land Bridge more than 10,000 years ago, from the Americas to Asia. At the same time, horses disappeared from the Americas, due to this crossing.

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In Lascaux, France, 17,000 years ago, beautiful cave paintings of horses were made, showing people's love for them. Later, certain constellations were named after horses

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The Kazakhstan Stable was constructed about 7,000 years ago in Kazakhstan. Physical evidence such as knife marks on thousands of horse bones suggests that horses were used for meat. Horses may have also been milked.

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5,000 years ago, a monumental invention came to be; the bit. The bit was invented in Europe. Worn down horse teeth prove this.

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Chariots were invented in the Middle East 4,000 years ago. Drawings show horses pulling chariots, with people riding them.

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In Persia, 400 BCE, horse-mounted messangers would travel down the 1700 mile road in seven days. By foot, it took 90 days.

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2000 years ago, the Chinese invented the saddle, the the stirrup, which improved horse-mounted warfare.

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In the 13 century, Asian Mongols would mount horses in wars, famously equipped with bows and arrows.

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In the 13 century, European would mount horses wearing armor into war. They were like the early version of tanks.

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Shortly after Columbus came to the Americas in 1492, the Spanish came to Mexico with horses. Many horses escaped and bred in the wild, causing herds of wild horses.

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In the Americas, in 1540, Native Americans began to domesticate horses. Little kids would ride smaller horses, while older people rode as experts.

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The People of the Horse | National Geographic

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Horses changed life on the Great Plains forever, shaping everything from hunting methods to social status. For Native Americans today, horses endure as an emblem of tradition and a source of pride, pageantry, and healing. ➡ Subscribe: http://bit.ly/NatGeoSubscribe About National Geographic: National Geographic is the world's premium destination for science, exploration, and adventure.

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Since domestication, horses everywhere have been bred for certain characteristics, such as speed, build, or coat color.

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The steam engine was invented in England, in 1698. The steam engine beat out the use for horses. However, it's speed was measured in horsepower.

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In the 1800s, the means of communication changed from the Pony Express to telegraphs and railroads.

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Today, horses can be found almost everywhere. They are mostly recreational; horses are kept as pets and for racing. They are also known to be soothing to autistic children.