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Battle-Ready: A History of the War Horse
05/26/2008
For thousands and thousands of years, ever since the horse was first domesticated, humans have used horses in battle and warfare – for transport and in battle.
For thousands and thousands of years, ever since the horse was first domesticated, humans have used horses in battle and warfare – for transport and in battle.
Archaeologically speaking, the war horse dates back to between 4000 and 3000 BC, as people fortified their towns for protection from raiders who rode on horseback. The earliest records of horses being in active combat are from the Andronovo culture around 2000 BC, where horses were used to pull chariots. Over the next few thousand years, records spring up from China to Egypt solidifying the standard of horses pulling chariots into battle. The ancient Assyrians also began to record that they rode on horseback into battle, a concept later known as cavalry.
The European Middle Ages developed three types of war horse: the Rouncey, for use both in general riding and war; the Courser, a strong and fast horse well-suited to hard battles; and the famous Destrier, the horse for the noble knights. This horse then began to be used in tournaments in later years. As the knight declined, so did the Destrier.
Cavalry came back during the Renaissance, as the development of gunpowder and muskets allowed soldiers to swiftly ride into battle once again. In America, the conquistadores used horses to defeat the Aztecs and the Incas. The American Indians learned to use horses in warfare as a result, and became a problem for the United States Army in later years.
By World War I and especially World War II, the cavalry again became phased out for better technologies and advanced warfare. The Polish cavalry, however, remained active, and defended successfully several times against the Germans while on horseback.
Today, the horse is used for educational purposes and reenactments. They are also used for ceremonial purposes and public appearances. The United States Army’s 1st Cavalry Division remains active today to emulate the weapons and methods employed by the United States Cavalry in the 1880s. The horse also continues to be used in law enforcement both in the United States and Europe. Mounted units can be seen in major metropolitan cities across the world.
