Wild And Feral Horses
While it is largely agreed that the domestication of horses took place by 2,000 BCE, there are competing theories as to just how far back domestication may have taken place in various portions of the world. The earliest evidence of horse domestication dates back to around 4500 BC and comes from Central Asia.
Wild Horses
Today, most horses considered to be wild horses are actually feral horses. Feral animals are those with domesticated ancestors but were born and continue to live in the wild themselves. Many times feral horses have been living in the wild for generations. There are also some truly wild horses whose original ancestors never have been domesticated.
The Forest Horse or Diluvial Horse is believed to have evolved into Equus ferus germanicus and may be a large contributor to the evolution of heavy work horses used in areas of Europe. There is also a theory that many proto horses developed with adaptations to their environments before domestication of any kind took place.
There are many competing theories about the initial domestication and development of various types of horses. In addition to the Forest Horse there are three other horse types thought to have developed long ago. These include:
- Small heavyset pony sized horses. These sturdy horses have heavy coats, arose in Europe and adapted to damp, cold climates. These are believed to have resembled and be connected to today’s Shetland pony.
- Sturdy, dun-colored horses the size of large ponies from the northern regions of Asia. These are predecessors to Przewalski’s and Tarpan horses.
- Taller, agile and slim horses that arose in western Asia. These horses adapted to dry, hot climates and are believed to be the predecessors of modern Arabian horses and Akhal-Teke.
Feral Horses
There are several types of feral horses in the western United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. In the United States and Canada feral horse are often referred to as mustangs. In Australia feral horses are sometimes called brumbies. Many times feral horses are named after their location, such as Sable Island Horses from Nova Scotia, Canada.
