history horse britain known history horse britain starts horse remains found suffolk dating dating early humans active hunters horses finds ice age recovered sites time land forms british isles peninsula attached continental europe low lying area known land animals migrate freely island britain continental europe horses use pull vehicles begun britain time roman conquest britain british tribes assemble armies included thousands horse improvement goal horse breeding enterprise date medieval times king john imported flemish imported spanish owned stud farms laws passed restricting prohibiting horse exports horses considered undesirable type 17th century specific horse breeds recorded suitable specific purposes new horse drawn agricultural machinery designed fast coaches pulled teams horses blood use improved roads coaching inn owned hundreds horses support trade steam power took role horses agriculture mid-19th century horses continued warfare years speed agility rough terrain remained working horses disappeared britain 1980s today horses britain kept wholly recreational purposes pleistocene earliest horse remains found area covered britain ireland date species horse identified remains dating spear damage horse shoulder bone discovered pit dated showed early hunting horses area time land comprises british isles periodically joined continental europe land bridge extending approximately current coast english channel recently years ago dependent rise fall sea levels associated advancing retreating ice ages allowed humans fauna migrate areas climate fluctuated hunters follow prey including britain time beneath sea remains discovered land horses present hunted period significant finds include horse tooth dating horse bones dating recovered pin hole cave horse remains era recovered horse tooth recovered dating cave preserved earliest examples prehistoric artwork britain horse piece horse bone goddess carved horse bone dating recovered horse remains dating later period roughly coinciding end glacial period found fields dating contains horse remains showing cut marks indicating hunting horses occurred study north yorkshire produced horse bone showing cut marks dating time period period began years ago continues present identified current warm period known marine stage considered period current ice age horse remains dating period middle stone age early found britain lies north_sea material include archaeological evidence presence horse britain continues washed sea rivers coastal erosion northernmost peninsula britain formed covered glacial ice sea level metres lower today glacial ice advanced retreated times period north_sea low lying extended northwards point roughly parallel eastern scotland archaeologist named low lying area river thames flowed somewhat north current route joining rhine flow west atlantic_ocean line english channel human hunters land varied coastline salt marshes beaches inland streams rivers marshes included lakes richest hunting fishing ground available people horse remains dating recovered remains dating found cave apparent absence horse remains evidence wild horses remained britain island separate europe pre wild horse bones found tombs type dating pre roman times horses present bronze age britain horse including bits found horses vehicles bronze age cart wheels found dating belonged vehicles pulled early bronze age evidence horses ridden lacking riding involved materials survived found horses ridden battle britain late bronze age excavations iron age sites recovered horse bones ritual pits temple site near cambridge iron age found including woman discovered majority britain associated culture cases dismantled burial exceptions ones found buried intact burial dated burial likely similar date end iron age evidence use horses transport battle extensive trade inhabitants britain cultures collection artefacts somerset includes large horse gear rare cast copper dating late pre roman iron age found cornwall horse important figure bronze age religion myth hill figure near iron age hill fort castle time attempted invasion britain inhabitants britain included proficient horsemen forces met british horsemen war horsemen accompanied later faced organised resistance led war east romans encountered horse riding warriors spread development horse recovered period bits junctions indicate withdrawal ruling groups roman conquest britain large horse found roman fort lancaster lancashire base cavalry units 1st 2nd centuries bones horses found roman roman posting station street horses kept horses revival cult celtic goddess protector horses account horse buried special care buried humans 4th 5th century cemetery horses represent belief protected dead earliest records british horses recognised quality exported dates roman era british horses taken italy improve native stock earliest evidence horses sport britain dates roman times racing arena having discovered essex 5th century role horse culture partly illustrated number words horse old english distinguish cart horses words pack horses words riding horses words horses breeding words male female horses suitable royalty aristocracy words mainly poetry word word horse evidence horses times teams book records horse horses predominantly transporting goods people numerous english place names refer keeping case horses spurs found archaeologists horses raced sport race course kent mentioned charter dated evidence horses occasionally eaten hard winter ridden years age slaughtered meat references medieval sources indicating placed high value horses included price paid land gifts kings servants included horse numerous horses horse breeding establishments recorded book horses probably omitted given need horses riding pulling recorded book concealed heading classes obliged supply year maintenance horses belonging warriors horses held religious significance 8th century historian wrote anglo saxon 5th century words stallion horse respectively modern scholars regard horse deities pagan ancestors royalty stemming divine twins religion cultures horses appear frequently accounts concerning events context 7th century horse reported revealed warm bread meat hungry pulling straw roof suffering knee visited angel horseback helped heal knee 8th century wrote source fresh water needed monastery site died kingdom ground gave way horse horse pulled free fountain spring water came ground formed brook 10th century king reported saved death chasing deer horseback prayed forgiveness abbot horse stopped edge cliff deer hunting dogs fallen later occasion horse fell dead heard voice heaven telling king died reference viking horsemen fighting 10th century ireland primary use horses britain captured seized brought facilitate rapid travel central purpose horses particularly warfare conflict kingdoms carried long distances 7th century king central england took armies north nearly miles north wall killed fighting armies probably rode horses war maintenance horses required held land anglo saxon kings 7th century anglo saxon warrior buried horse carvings stone crosses feature warriors horseback recorded book 11th century warriors horseback fought successfully viking welsh scottish armies including norman allies normandy shipped horses english channel invaded england outcome subsequent described inevitable victory cavalry helpless infantry battle hastings took place king england centre property connections came weeks taken army north defeated norwegian invaders king battle bridge near york strong cavalry battle seriously depleted english king resources south army london way meet norman invaders force brought smaller fought battle bridge english cavalry deployed tactical decision english troops norman cavalry charges finally broke deaths commanders superiority invaders mounted troops mounted troops described cavalry weapons armour similar foot soldiers fight organised group way normally understood medieval period improvement horses purposes began earnest middle ages king alexander scotland imported horses eastern origin britain documented import oriental horses king john england imported flemish continue improvement great horse tournament breeding coronation queen eleanor royal aristocratic guests gave away hundreds horses catch king edward sat meat king alexander iii scotland came service knights light horses let horses catch earl earl led horse hand knights horses let liking king england imported spanish great horses france passionate supporter hunting tournament horse racing spanish horses known running horses primarily involved horse ownership widespread 12th century tenant farmers involved land crops relatively new open field system employed horses work horses increasingly transporting farm goods peasants obliged transport items rely horse farm work necessity produce communication villages horse breeding enterprise continued 14th century owned stud farms owned gilbert earl angus scotland significant grazing lands horse breeding carried east west introduction horse drawn wheeled wagon britain early 15th century latest meant heavier loads hauled brought necessity horse teams capable hauling heavier loads poor roads time loads suitable ground exceptionally poor pack horses advantage wagons needed fewer faster travel ground time post horses available general hire post stage towns principal routes england royal hire horses half price delayed available horses engaged scotland king edward established temporary relay riders london allowed messages transmitted days appears imitated system france london merchants established private post horse system correspondence france henry_viii appointed british master post established local post boys carry royal mail stage horseback system combined elements european models early 16th century horse teams beginning replace teams work britain greater speed strength agility particularly lighter soils heavier soils teams retained advantage pulled steadily albeit slowly work despite fed grazing horse collar allows horse greater freedom pull heavy loads western europe 10th century shown 11th 12th century use horse teams britain possible increase farming staple food hard working horses years war 14th 15th centuries english government banned export horses times crisis 16th century passed number laws relating breeding export horses attempt improve british stock forbidden allow male horses turned fields common land kept bounds tied stalls ruling caused practice horses widespread henry_viii passed aimed improving height strength horses stallion hands inches mare hands inches permitted run common land run wild year old hands inches allowed run area annual round ups common land enforced stallion height limit ordered destroyed unlikely small horses henry_viii established stud breeding imported horses irish flemish draught horses scottish riding horses reported little effect soon reign said bred best horses england successive reigns queens mary elizabeth laws introduced aim reducing horse theft requiring sale transactions horses recorded laws calling height horses partially repealed elizabeth areas poor quality land support weight horses desired henry_viii able breed bring forth great breeds statute henry_viii expressed allowed britain mountain pony breeds escape slaughter human population expansion britain reign elizabeth resulting necessity improvements transport increased demand good horses horse transport extensive time morning horses counted road north city london miles north tudor stuart periods horse ownership widespread britain continental europe suffered decline harsh economic environment late 16th early 17th centuries economic recovery number horse owners increased travel popular hiring horses common practice time traveller buy horse journey sell arrival destination horses raced britain hundreds years time king scotland brought sport known today england scotland king countries organised public races number places continued import quality animals aimed development new lighter faster type horse published farmers pack horses farm horses cart horses breeding horses driving recommended crossing native horses breeds particular purposes example suggesting turks irish produce riding animals flanders horses produce light driving animals german heavy draught horses produce heavy animals horse numerous earliest mentions specific breeds cleveland horses suffolk punch horses date time large dutch horses imported discovered existing cart horses strength task draining horses known lincolnshire blacks english heavy draught horses today descendants middle 17th century reputation british horse europe good according sir peace treaty france farmers offered times accustomed price horses reign charles passion racing swift horses hunting field focus horse breeding point heavier horses tournament warfare led complaints need stronger powerful types horse english civil war disrupted horse racing banned horse racing ordered race horses spectators event seized concentrated breeding animals suited cavalry horses encouraging lightweight racing horses heavier working horses effectively produced new type horse altogether export horse prohibited ending war resulted horse breeders demand horses significantly reduced illicit trade horses flourished europeans wanted buy vastly improved british stock legislation removed restrictions horses export restoration monarchy breeding quality horses begun scratch horse powered agricultural improved period lighter drawn horses dutch eastern england followed lightweight swing advertised reducing times horsepower time improved seed drill horse invented took years designs come common use earliest horse powered machines installed permanently developed end 18th century use fast horse drawn coaches known flying coaches began travelling london oxford coach involved overnight stay oxford_university organised project allow completion journey sunrise sunset project succeeded quickly copied cambridge_university end charles_ii reign ran times week london major towns good conditions covering distance miles day horse developed time native arab horses produce excellent general giving clear detailed published lineage today horses traced great accuracy horses running races sponsored monarchy carried weights stone usual weight stone indicating horse racing hunting chasing partly originated need military training mail coach service began end 18th century adding existing use fast coaches horses required fast coaches mainly produced heavy farm lighter racing type horse combination speed agility endurance strength required aristocracy gentry paid high prices matched teams quality horses farmers sold best animals good profit keeping lower quality animals sale saddle horses coaching trade grew trade carriage goods public transport provided farmers large numbers horses farms buy food forage coaching accounted trade cases proprietor work horse teams local district owned coaching establishments provide transport greater distances advantage string coaching passengers coaches paid services offered including overnight accommodation inn owned hundreds horses 19th 20th centuries horses remained primary source power agriculture mining transport warfare arrival steam engine railway established industrial use act parliament parliament allowed construction surrey iron railway intended carry goods railway later known initially horse drawn vehicles developments steam engines cheaper run horses useful source locomotive power railways carry paying passengers soon followed parliament passing new railway act year numerous railway lines laid forming networks created number rail miles expanded horse drawn passenger coaches virtually obsolete long distances use steam engine began horse redundant farm work letter ross commented said correct horses kept vast expense comparison steam engine eats works invention portable steam engine 1840s promoted steam powered machines small farms man invest portable machine cost hiring harvest use horses machine place million horses million working horses number dropped horses began britain mining pits 18th century haul coal ore working face lifts deep mines surface shallower mines small size combined great strength stud farm sole purpose breeding pits established owner 4th pony stud book society formed stop use best pits pit britain chiefly modern pit northumberland horse called probably work underground british coal retired near world war horses combat cavalry charges remained best means moving scouts supply wagons artillery quickly battlefield horse refuel extent grazing cope terrain machines time war devastating effect british horse population thousands animals drafted war effort breeds reduced number danger disappearing breeds saved dedicated efforts breeders formed breed societies tracking remaining animals registering 21st century working horses disappeared britain streets 21st century exceptions heavy horses pulling brewers wagons young brewery ceased london ended years use horses brewery team horses retired delivery work given new career head offering heavy horse team driving recreational event continue appear opening ceremonies new young publicity events working brewery horses areas horses wiltshire working teams increasingly rare areas local farmers use horses round thousands semi feral grazing open forest drift season britain mounted police use horses crowd control niche areas horse britain today kept entirely recreational purposes compete equestrian disciplines carry riders advanced trail riding holidays work riding schools provide therapy disabled loved companions horses riders great_britain won numerous medals equestrian sports summer olympic games
History of the horse in Britain