Photo source: Wikimedia Commons via Adrian Pingstone It is estimated that there are fewer than 2,000 Caspians left in the world today. Currently, Caspians are being bred outside of its native Iran, which has undergone political upheaval over the last several years. The Caspian was used by royalty and artifacts from this time period depict the Caspian, including the tri‑lingual seal of King Darius the Great, the staircase frieze at the Palace of Persopolis, and the Gold Oxus Treasure of Darabgird.įor many years, it was thought that these ancient Persian horses had died out, but it is now strongly believed that the modern Caspian is the direct descendant of these ancient horses. The lean and athletic Caspian is believed to be the oldest horse breed in the world and traces its history all the way back to 3000 BCE in Iran.
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Photo source: Wikimedia Commons via Kerri-Jo StewartĪlthough the Caspian is a small horse, it is not considered a pony. Those who love horses will, like this reviewer, be heartened by the book's focus on the horse and the author's steadfast assertion of the horse's selfless service in war.Current Estimated Numbers: fewer than 2,000 Historians of both ancient and modern warfare will find this text of interest, as it attests to the complexity of cavalry actions and considers current trends in military history. In addition to its coverage of military topics, it explores the physical characteristics of horse breeds, the training of horses and riders, and the evolution of horsemanship. Notwithstanding these minor objections, however, War Horse is an excellent book. More accurately, trade networks and kinship connections made it possible, for example, for Dakota Indians in Minnesota to have long-standing relationships with other native people as far north as Winnepeg in Canada. Only in the analysis of Plains Indian horsemanship does the text show any limitations, ascribing "a large ignorance of events beyond the local region" to native people (p.
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EUROPEAN WAR HORSE FULL
During the Civil War, the ability of Union soldiers to play both offensive and defensive roles meant that they were as effective as their European counterparts, and thus developed their full potential. Of particular interest to American military historians will be DiMarco's analysis of European and American cavalry in the nineteenth century. Furthermore, he argues that the psychology of horse and rider must be taken into account-for if horses are overtaken by fear as a group, it can prove difficult to regain control of them, as evinced by the rout of Roman cavalry at Andrianopole. The author also considers the ability of armies to breed quality stock, maintain the health of their horses, and ensure that soldiers know the fundamentals of horsemanship. At Waterloo, for instance, "the perfect timing and aggressiveness" of British cavalry altered the dynamics of the battle (p. While the employment of horses in war has been treated elsewhere, this text distinguishes itself as a truly comprehensive study of the military horse.Įmphasizing the crucial role played by mounted forces, DiMarco offers several nuanced interpretations of battles where cavalry played a key role, such as Hattin, Waterloo, and Gettysburg. The mobility, mass, and shock effect of cavalry proved fundamental to military operations from the reign of the Egyptian pharaohs until the Second World War. As LTC DiMarco so ably demonstrates in War Horse, an army's ability to manage horses often determined the outcome of entire campaigns. Horses did more than bear their masters – they participated in battle, biting and kicking both human and equine foes they instilled fear with their tremendous bulk and speed. Although he was replaced by weapons systems that reflected the evolution of military technology, the horse proved to be the most flexible and mobile asset available to armies for more than thirty centuries. The horse has been the silent partner of soldiers in war since ancient times.