National Day of the Horse

Equine, History, Nature 4 Minutes

On the National Day of the Horse, horse lovers like ourselves like to consider America’s relationship with horses and our common history. It’s popular knowledge that European colonists brought horses over to America during the 15th and 16th century to be traded with the Native Americans, hence the Thanksgiving association. While this is true, the relationship isn’t as straightforward as that; it’s a complicated one.

A 2012 study found the wild ancestor of the modern domestic horse likely originated around 160,000 years ago in Eurasia. The scientists determined that horses were first domesticated roughly 6,000 years ago somewhere in the Eurasian Steppe. Another study published in 2017 found all modern horses descend from two distinct lines: the Arabian horse and the now-extinct Turkoman horse (which was similar to the Akhal-Teke breed).

Classic Arabian
Turkoman/Akhal-Teke

Horses spread around the world via trade, war, gifting, theft, and more. People began to selectively breed for desirable characteristics to meet their work requirements for the horses, such as speed, strength, and stamina. While people kept track of their horses’ lineage and traits for centuries, studbooks to maintain an official pedigree record didn’t come about until the 1700s. From this arose the multitude of breeds and types of horses we know today.

Just 19 of the Breeds

The Breeds of Livestock resource from Oklahoma State University lists 217 separate breeds of horses from the Abyssinian to the Zhemaichu. Meanwhile, “The Encyclopedia of the Horse” by Elwyn Hartley Edwards lists just over 150 breeds of horses, including many ancient breeds that no longer exist but are the ancestors of many breeds today. A study by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences references 784 horse breeds in the United Nations Food and Agriculture database, but most equine experts recognize approximately 200 horse breeds.

Although horses hadn’t been roaming the American plains in the years leading up to their European introduction, horses have a much longer relationship with America than previously thought.

Paleontology

Think millions of years, coinciding in time periods with the mighty wooly mammoth. Around 10,000 years ago, some of these wild horses crossed over the Bering land bridge that connected early America and Asia. The earliest bridles for horses were found in Eastern Europe dating back to 4000 BC, showing that the Europeans started to domesticate the wild horses around this time, using them for hunting, carrying packs and working the fields. The ancient wild horses that stayed in America became extinct but their ancestors were introduced back to the American land via the European colonists many years later.

Pleistocene Era Horse

Columbus’ second voyage was the starting point for the re-introduction, bringing Iberian horses to modern-day Mexico. Some of the Iberian horses escaped European control and became wild horses, relatives of the mustangs in the Western United States today. The first breeds of horses that were brought over were smaller, due to size constraints for the smaller ships of the time, but as time went on, larger horses such as draft horses were also imported.

Navajo Bridle

After Columbus’ re-introduction, horses spread across the continent and many Native American societies developed their cultures around them. This is where problems emerge, because although they were once native to America thousands of years ago, horses are still technically a recently introduced species to the American plains. Wild horses have few predators and a perfect habitat, so they quickly grew to become a symbol of the West. However, their populations grew too quickly, and they began to compete with farmers for the natural resources that the land held.

The Bureau of Land Management currently protects the wild herds, but they have to manage the population via sterilization techniques and round-ups, a dramatic controversy for animal rights activists.

Wild mare with foal and yearling
BLM Round-Up

The horses we see today are all examples of selective breeding via humans over the years (with the exception of the pure desert-bred Arabian) but they’re also a shared part of our mixed Native and European histories. Horses allowed humans to travel farther and faster, instrumentally help out armies during battles, and develop the country through labor-intensive agriculture.

There are currently around 9.2 million horses in the country, consisting of many breeds such as American Quarter Horses, Paints, Appaloosas, Missouri Fox Trotters, and rarer breeds such as the Shire, Lippizan, Gotland, Caspian and Colonial Spanish Mustangs.

Classic Quarter Horse

Classic Paint

Classic Appaloosa
Missouri Foxtrotter

Dappled Bay Shire
Classic Lippizanner
Gotland
Caspian


Oscar (above) is one of four horses who starred in Disney’s Hidalgo, the epic adventure movie based on the true story of Frank T. Hopkins and his Spanish mustang stallion, Hidalgo. Oscar is APHA registered as Impressively Better, born in 1991.

Most of the breeds in “The Encyclopedia of the Horse” are horses with existing registries that can trace bloodlines to ensure purity. In general, the number of horse breed registries is increasing as equine lovers recognize the need to compile data about rare and endangered breeds and types of horses.

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Published by NebraskaFilly

Army veteran (1976-1979), retired with entirely too much time on my hands

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186 thoughts on “National Day of the Horse”

  1. Well, PA court did something right here, at least!

    “Columbus statue in Marconi Plaza must be uncovered, Pennsylvania court rules” — The controversial monument has been concealed since a series of physical altercations broke out between an armed group that vowed to protect it and those demanding its removal
    Michael Tanenbaum Headshot
    BY MICHAEL TANENBAUM

    ENTIRE ARTICLE: “The plywood box that has covered the Christopher Columbus statue at Marconi Plaza since June 2020 must be removed, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania ruled Friday.

    Philadelphia officials had the monument covered after an armed group of people claiming to protect the statue faced off with another group protesting for its removal. Multiple physical altercations happened at the plaza around that time, which coincided with civil unrest over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

    A group of volunteers called the Friends of Marconi Plaza sued to have the monument displayed again, spurring a legal battle that has swung back and forth over the past two years. The latest ruling overturned a 2021 decision that permitted the city to keep the statue boxed up.

    Those in favor of preserving the monument say it is a cultural representation of Italian heritage, while those in opposition view it as a symbol of oppression. “We are very disappointed in the court’s ruling,” Kevin Lessard, a spokesperson for Mayor Jim Kenney, said. “We continue to believe that the Christopher Columbus statue, which has been a source of controversy in Philadelphia, should be removed from its current position at Marconi Plaza.”

    The city is still reviewing the latest ruling made by the three-judge panel. “While we will respect this decision, we will also continue to explore our options for a way forward that allows Philadelphians to celebrate their heritage and culture while respecting the histories and circumstances of everyone’s different backgrounds,” Lessard said.

    In August 2020, the Philadelphia Art Commission and the Philadelphia Historical Commission voted to have the boxed up statue removed from the plaza and to consider other locations for it to be displayed. The subsequent lawsuit resulted in the statue remaining covered at the plaza throughout the appeals process.

    In October, during an Italian heritage festival and parade, the box was painted to resemble the Italian flag. The city has argued that removing the statue from the plaza is an important step toward addressing Columbus’ controversial legacy. Long celebrated as an explorer, Columbus’ record of colonization and genocide of Indigenous people has come under greater scrutiny in recent decades by scholars and social movements, alike.

    “As Philadelphia — and the nation — continue to reckon with the deep legacy of racism and oppression in America, it is critical that our public spaces are seen as safe, welcoming and inclusive for all people,” Kenney said in 2020. During the unrest and later in court, the city also argued that the statue poses a potential threat to public safety.

    Other Columbus statues around the country were vandalized during protests that followed Floyd’s murder. Some cities, including Camden, had their monuments removed.

    Last year, President Joe Biden became the first president to proclaim the federal Columbus Day holiday as Indigenous Peoples Day. He did so again this year. He also issued proclamations in 2021 and 2022 that recognize Columbus Day as a federal holiday, a status that Indigenous Peoples Day does not yet have.

    Kenney signed an executive order last year changing Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day on the city government calendar.”

    Liked by 1 person

  4. “The Justice Department Faces Questions After Effectively Preventing Bankman-Fried from Testifying in Congress”
    ENTIRE ARTICLE from Jonathan Turley: “The arrest of Sam Bankman-Fried yesterday was sudden and unexpected in light of Bankman-Fried’s plan to testify before Congress. As a criminal defense attorney, my reaction to the arrest last night remains unchanged: this is the first time that I can recall where prosecutors moved aggressively to stop a defendant from making self-incriminating statements. His testimony would have been entirely admissible and likely devastating at trial.

    I previously wrote how Bankman-Fried was doing harm to his case by speaking in the media and to Congress. So why would the Justice Department move to stop the self-inflicted damage? You have a major target who was about to voluntarily testify for hours.

    That is ordinarily a dream for prosecutors, but the Justice Department moved quickly to prevent that from happening. At that stage, Bankman-Fried was not charged or in custody. He was not protected by Miranda or other constitutional rules from self-incriminating statements.

    Indeed, some of us had already warned that he was causing himself considerable damage in making such statements. This was a defendant with a large legal team facing possible criminal charges who seemed eager to speak about his actions and motivations. Most prosecutors would sit back, make popcorn, and watch this unfold.

    The curious move led many to question whether the Biden Administration was eager to prevent questions on Bankman-Fried’s political contributions and associations. He was the second highest donor to Democratic causes in the last election cycle. His mother, a law professor at Stanford also heads a major Democratic campaign fund.

    It is also possible that the Justice Department simply wanted to show the public that it was moving aggressively despite his close Democratic ties. It may have secured sufficient evidence (including possible cooperating witnesses) to satisfy the basis for charges and an extradition request. Moreover, the charges are likely to make some Democratic figures uncomfortable as this matter enters the criminal process.

    Yet, that still does not explain why the Justice Department would not want to hear a full account from Bankman-Fried before effectively shutting him down as a criminal defendant. This is the first time that I can recall where the prosecutors, rather than defense counsel, moved effectively to muzzle a defendant. Whatever the motivation, the timing of the charges effectively stopped the windfall of information coming from Bankman-Fried.

    Bankman-Fried is accused of diverting customer funds from the start of his cryptocurrency exchange to support his hedge fund, Alameda Research. He is also accused of using his fraudulent practices to fund a lavish lifestyle, buy real estate, make venture investments, and fund Democratic causes. The range of charges includes wire fraud, wire fraud conspiracy, securities fraud, securities fraud conspiracy, and money laundering.

    Notably, the eight counts include violating campaign finance laws, a charge that could prove embarrassing for some powerful political interests. The charges are on top of charges announced earlier Tuesday by the Securities and Exchange Commission, which alleged Bankman-Fried defrauded investors and used proceeds from investors to buy real estate on behalf of himself and family.

    The details of those transactions might have been voluntarily disclosed under intense cross examination if the Administration allowed him to appear as a witness. Moreover, Bankman-Fried was already causing himself considerable harm in media interviews.

    Bankman-Fried’s parents have left Stanford and are reportedly in the Bahamas with their son. They could themselves face questions. His father, Joseph Bankman, is a tax professor and was a paid employee of his son’s company. His mother reportedly worked with him on some of these massive donations to Democrats. The parents are reportedly now concerned that the legal costs in the case could “wipe them out.”

    Bankman-Fried has admitted that only a few hours of efforts a day might have avoided these losses. It sounds like a “my bad” defense. That will not fly in court and building on that defense might have sealed his fate. The question is why the Justice Department moved to stop Bankman-Fried as he worked so hard to make the criminal case against himself. He comes across badly in these past interviews like a trophy-laden millennial who believes that he just needs to play to win. It is not quite that easy in a criminal case.

    If he testified, Bankman-Fried could not only have made any criminal defense more difficult but he could have potentially tripped the wire for allegedly false or misleading statements under oath. It was a target-rich environment for Congress — and a potential bonanza for prosecutors.

    Bankman-Fried was in a dangerous free fall. Despite his legal team, Bankman-Fried seemed to be praying for someone to “stop me before I speak again.” Someone just did. The Biden Administration’s move seemed to bring a more positive meaning to Ronald Reagan’s “top 9 most terrifying words in the English Language”: “I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.”

    Liked by 2 people

  5. Mmmmm….comment at CTH by G-pol:

    “If you live in either Arizona, Kansas, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, or Wisconsin, you have every reason to hate Ron DeSantis’ guts right now. Last month, the governor’s race in your state was decided by ten points or less, but the Democrat won because the RGA intentionally withheld funds from your candidates in order to fund DeSantis’ 2024 war chest.

    So the next time you complain about illegals continuing to swamp Arizona and New Mexico, remember that Ron DeSantis helped make it possible. And the next time you complain about crime continuing to be out of control in places like Milwaukee, Minneapolis, NYC, and Portland, remember Ron DeSantis helped make it possible. All because he’s a selfish POS who cares more about his presidential aspirations than ensuring that other states are run the way he runs Florida.

    Please keep the above in mind, thank you.”

    Liked by 2 people

  7. From Seneca The Elder (spacing edited): “This is an article from American Greatness, a supposedly conservative, Trump supporting site. Just look at how they throw our President under the bus with lies and innuendo. The title alone says it all- “Donald Trump’s Mad Pursuit”, comparing him to Captain Ahab. What a crock of BS.

    Here is the central premise of the essay:

    “Both Ahab and Trump went mad: the one looking for a white whale, the other for sufficient proof of a stolen election to return him to the White House. “

    Then came COVID-19, and then came the 2020 election, which Trump lost. At least he lost the official count, and the official count is what matters.

    Was the election stolen? Perhaps (you may say “probably”), but Trump can’t prove it. “

    This kind of propaganda sickens me, especially when it comes from the same publication that has a fantastic article by the magnificent Julie Kelly who says: “The release of the Twitter Files, for the most part, confirms what Donald Trump and his supporters knew in 2020. Big Tech drastically suppressed information damaging to Joe Biden—his son’s overseas financial dealings and the Democratic Party’s plans to ensure Biden’s victory with an unprecedented flood of mail-in ballots—before Election Day.”

    I am starting to agree with the great Dr. Robert Malone who says this is all a giant psy op. It’s like MAGA conservatives can’t win. Whatever happened to the idea that the Truth shall set you free??

    https://amgreatness.com/2022/12/12/donald-trumps-mad-pursuit/

    Liked by 1 person

  32. “The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have been exposed running the most disturbing and elaborate propaganda campaign in living memory. Screen writers, comedians, influencers and church leaders, among others, were recruited and paid to promote Covid-19 vaccines to the masses, while ridiculing and shaming those who refuse the jab.”

    https://newspunch.com/bidens-hhs-and-cdc-paid-screen-writers-and-comedians-to-mock-the-unvaccinated/

    Liked by 1 person

  33. Hi Pat and Filly!

    Just wanted to show you both our most cherished Christmas ornament ever!

    BABY JESUS ORNAMENT

    – SIDE –

    – FRONT –

    – CLOSE UP –

    Liked by 2 people

      1. Wood shavings, a wooden bead or ball, cotton hair that looks like it unraveled out of a cotton sock or something. Probably some hot gun glue or epoxy to hold it together.

        Liked by 1 person

        2. hubby decorates our tree every year–my job is to take it all down after Christmas and properly store everything…
          anyway, every year…all the “best Dad” ornaments the kids made him over the years–and now the Grandpa ones too– always make the cut and get put on the tree…LOL

          Liked by 1 person

  40. 12/13/22 • BIG TECH
    ‘We Don’t Live in a Democracy’: Author of ‘Silent Coup’ Exposes Corporate Takeover of Government — Investigative journalist Matt Kennard joined comedian and political commentator Russell Brand for a discussion of the corporate takeover of governments and Kennard’s new book, “Silent Coup: How Corporations Overthrew Democracy.”

    ENTIRE ARTICLE @ CHD: ““Since the Second World War, the corporation has completely eaten the state that created it,” according to investigative journalist Matt Kennard. “It is wrong to think of the state as acting in our interests,” he said. Comedian and political commentator Russell Brand spoke with Kennard about his new book, “Silent Coup: How Corporations Overthrew Democracy,” which explores the history of corporate control over the state.

    In the 1950s, during decolonization, “corporations and private capital were very concerned about this — how do we maintain control” over former colonies when empires could no longer intervene with force on their behalf, Kennard told Brand. So they set up shadow legal systems, like the Investor-State Dispute Settlement system, which allows foreign investors to sue states over laws or actions that could negatively affect investors’ profits.

    “Egypt raises the minimum wage. A French water company doesn’t like that … so they take them to these courts,” Kennard said. “All the stuff you hear on TV about the government protecting national security,” he said, “what they are talking about on the inside is how do we protect corporate power? And, how do we protect big business globally?”

    According to Kennard, the U.K. uses taxpayer money to protect and export the interests of arms dealers like BAE Systems and energy corporations like BP in the name of national security. “We don’t live in a democracy,” he told Brand. Even states like El Salvador with a strong anti-colonial history “were integrated into the system” through treaties and aid packages that force them to protect international corporate interests, he said.

    “We think that there is a kind of secularism, that there is a separation between these interests,” Brand added, “but you are saying that corporatism has had tendrils into all manner of government agencies … it’s not a bug, it’s a feature.” “It’s like a Frankenstein effect,” Kennard said. States originally chartered corporations to carry out public works projects in the 17th century, but then their structure changed.

    The corporation has “mutated into some nefarious and untenable monster, ” said Brand. Brand asked Kennard about the role of Big Tech in American politics. “Do they need to resort to skullduggery and trickery or is it formalized and systemized to such a degree that they can just do it legit?” Kennard responded, “It’s systematized.”

    During the social upheaval of the 1960s, U.S. corporations and the government “were freaking out,” Kennard said. Lewis Powell, who became an associate justice of the Supreme Court, outlined a strategy for corporate domination in the Powell Memo to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Corporations “dumped money” into think tanks like the Heritage Foundation, the Cato Institute and the Chamber to “retake control of the narrative,” with tremendous success, Kennard said.

    Today, social media companies have disrupted legacy media’s power and opened space for different views, but they also maintain corporate domination, he said. “We rely on them so much and they are owned by these oligarchs who can pull the plug on them whenever they want.”

    Brand added: “Ultimately, [social media] will be beholden to the same groups of shareholders and submerged interests — bloody Vanguard and BlackRock — that start cropping up sooner or later if you investigate long enough, and evidently you have done those investigations.”

    Watch the Russell Brand video here:”

    Liked by 2 people

  41. Story at a glance:

    — “The Great Reset” is a new “social contract” that ties you to it through an electronic ID linked to your bank account and health records, and a “social credit” ID that will dictate every facet of your life.

    — While the COVID-19 pandemic is being used as a justification for The Great Reset movement, the agenda has nothing to do with health and everything to do with a long-term plan to monitor and control the world through digital surveillance and artificial intelligence.

    — The Great Reset and the Fourth Industrial Revolution are rebranded terms for technocracy and the old “New World Order” melded with the transhumanist movement.

    — Technocracy is an economic system of resource allocation that revolves around technology — in particular, artificial intelligence, digital surveillance and Big Data collection — and the digitization of industry and government, which in turn allows for the automation of social engineering and social rule, thereby doing away with the need for democratically elected leadership.

    — While the real plan is to usher in a tech-driven dystopia free of democratic controls, they speak of this plan as a way to bring us back into harmony with nature.

    By now, you’ve probably heard world leaders speak of “The Great Reset,” “the Fourth Industrial Revolution” and the call to “Build Back Better” — which also is U.S. President Joe Biden’s plan to rebuild the middle-class slogan.

    It was a concept that former President Bill Clinton talked about in 2005 as special envoy to a United Nations Special Convoy.”

    More: https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/great-reset-power-grab-social-credit-cola/

    Liked by 2 people

  46. I am adding a short daily prayer to the board. I would invite each of you, if you wish, to also add one or maybe two of your own liking. I do not want to stifle anyone but please limit yourself to one or two religious postings. here’s one I found that I liked.

    Like

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