There are many theories today on how the process of domestication for horses happened. Even though horses, well, actually, the drawing of them appeared in 30,000 BCE, we share an opinion that they were wild – definitely not domesticated.
Horses have been a source of power, transportation, and companionship for humans for thousands of years. But it wasn’t until relatively recently that humans began to domesticate horses. Most historians agree that the first horse was domesticated in the Middle East around 4000 BC. However, there is a lot of debate about when and where the first horse was tamed.
So when did it happen for the first time?
Horses were first domesticated around 4,000 years ago. They were tamed by humans and used for riding, pulling carts and ploughing fields. Domesticating horses was a long process that took many generations.
The earliest evidence…
The earliest evidence of horse domestication comes from Kazakhstan where horse milk bones and teeth were found in an archaeological dig.
This is what led scientists to believe that Botai people were the first to domesticate horses because they would have been the only ones who would have had access to horse milk at that time.
The Botai were able to domesticate horses because they had access to large pastures with plenty of water and other resources that horses need. Horses also needed humans to take care of them because they are prey animals who have evolved to avoid predators by running away from them. Humans provided food and protection for their herds so that they would not have to run away all the time.
Or is it?
However, genetic evidence suggests that Botai horses are not the ancestors of modern domestic horses. Apparently, the use of horses spread across the Eurasian continent for transportation, agriculture and warfare. Scientists linked the success of domestic horse breeding to the observed genetic changes. They speculate that a stronger back (GSDMC gene) and greater obedience (ZFPM1 gene) may have made the horse more suitable for riding.
How did we manage to domesticate them?
Scientists found that one method of domesticating a horse might have been by keeping individual foals as pets, while adult horses are slaughtered for meat, since the foals are relatively small and easy to handle. It is known that horses behave as herd animals and need companionship to thrive. It’s been proven by historic evidence that foals can and will bond to humans and other domestic animals in order to meet their social needs. So it just might have been possible that domestication started with young horses being kept pets over time.