How and why did horse domestication become a thing? Was it before or after people learned to ride them? And most specifically how did humans decide that was a thing/point of travel/ good idea?

Question

I’ve searched in this forum and really couldn’t pinpoint an answer. My gut tells me it might have been a side thought after being able to farm and harvest crops, or maybe even domesticate smaller animals. But from what I picture in movies and tv shows, it seems like we were riding horses before any kind of domestication. I greatly appreciate any foresight into this, or sources I can look up to read into further. TIA so much for your insight and time!

In: Biology

Answer 1

Way, way back in the day (about 5,000 BC), before people started living in one place, horses were domesticated as a way to travel. The tribes were nomadic, there weren’t civilizations that stayed in one place, so being able to travel to places with more food options and migrate during the aftermath of the ice age when the planet was changing was a huge advantage.

Bonus: the Indo-Europeans were one group to domesticate equines and allowed them to spread around Europe. Most European languages, including English, are descendants of that group. Check out “The History of English” podcast for a very entertaining rabbit hole about this.