History from Horseback

This episode Keagan and Keely conclude our list of rare and endangered horse breeds from North America. Many of the horses we cover in this part are Spanish Colonial horses, a breed or group of breeds that can trace their roots back to Spanish colonies and conquistadors. Many strains of Spanish Colonial horse have remained genetically isolated for centuries and are rare due to this isolation.

Luckily, there were horse lovers whose passion for their favorite breed led them to action. Today we will recognize their efforts by exploring the rare and threatened breeds of equine originating from North America.

 Sources:

• The Livestock Conservancy⁠

• ASHDA website

• Spanish Barb Horse Association

• Foundation of Shackleford Horses

• Blue Oaks Center

• Carolina Marsh Tacky Association

• Santa Cruz Island Horses

• Rancho del Sueño

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We did it again. We yapped so much that this topic has to be another 2-part series. This time, Keagan and Keely discuss rare and endangered horse breeds that originate in North America.

There are around 400 breeds of horses in the world. Somebreeds are less known than others, because they are considered rare or endangered. The stories of how most breeds became threatened are similar to one another. Mechanization rendered horses obsolete in their main uses for transportation, agriculture, and warfare. This resulted in a global drop in the equine population around the early-to-mid 1900’s. Ironically, the United States, a country known for the iconic cowboy on horseback, was particularly quick to replace horses with machines in the early 1900’s.

Luckily, there were horse lovers whose passion for their favorite breed led them to action. Today we will recognize their efforts by exploring the rare and threatened breeds of equine originating from North America.

 Sources:

• The Livestock Conservancy
• ASHDA website
• Spanish Barb Horse Association
• Foundation of Shackleford Horses
• Blue Oaks Center
• Carolina Marsh Tacky Association
• Santa Cruz Island Horses
• Rancho del Sueño

If you enjoy this podcast, please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you're listening to HFH! We greatly appreciate your feedback and support. You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok!

Bucephalus returns in the conclusion of our first 2-part episode. And I suppose we mention Alexander the Great as well. In this episode Keagan and Keely focus on the biggest battles of Alexander the Great's campaign. Without horses and a cavalry, Alexander almost certainly would not have seen the success that he did during his life. 

TW: discussion of animal abuse from 39:15 - 45:26

Sources include:

• “The Horse: A Galloping History of Humanity” by Timothy Winegard
• “The Anabasis of Alexander" by Arrian

If you enjoy this podcast, please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you're listening to HFH! We greatly appreciate your feedback and support. You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok!

Bucephalus, the trusty steed of Alexander the Great, is exalted as the most famous horse in history. In our first two parter episode, we begin with a deep dive into the life and husbandry of an ancient Greek horse. The Greeks were late to the equestrian game when it comes to successful ancient civilizations - yet they adapted to horse husbandry quickly. By exploring the earliest western literature on horse husbandry, written by Xenophon, Keagan and Keely get a peek into the life Bucephalus may have led. 

Sources include:

• “The Horse: A Galloping History of Humanity” by Timothy Winegard
• “Alexander and Bucephalus” by Summer Trentin and Debby Sneed
• “On Horsemanship” by Xenophon

If you enjoy this podcast, please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you're listening to HFH! We greatly appreciate your feedback and support. You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok!

In this episode of History from Horseback we welcome guest Dr. Shelby Landmark onto the podcast. She is currently the Mellon Humanities Postdoctoral Fellow for Disability Representation at National Historic Sites, located at the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt in the Hudson Valley area of New York. 

We discuss how her professional interests in disability representation in media brought her closer to horses in an unexpected way. We also explore some of Franklin D. Roosevelt's and his family's relationship with horses, and the tales (or... tails?) that they collected over generations.

If you enjoy this podcast, please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you're listening to HFH! You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram!

You can find Shelby's socials at @horsehistorian on Facebook and Instagram. 

Keely and Keagan are back in the saddle with a topic that most horse lovers have likely heard of. "Black Beauty" is famous for being a best-selling children's novel from the late 19th century, yet you may be shocked to hear that it was never intended to be a story only for children. Author Anna Sewell's intentions ran deeper than entertaining kids - she sought to revolutionize workhorse welfare. Did she succeed? In this episode we delve into living and working conditions for horses and city-dwellers in the 19th century. And considering that our topic is equine welfare... this episode is a bit of a doozy. So sit back as we explore "Black Beauty" and the history of equine welfare in the late 18th century. 🐴🖤📖

Sources include:

• “The Horse: A Galloping History of Humanity” by Timothy Winegard
• "Black Beauty" by Anna Sewell

If you enjoy this podcast, please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you're listening to HFH!We greatly appreciate your feedback and support. You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram!

We have a new kind of episode for our listeners today. In this episode of History from Horseback we welcome a guest onto the podcast. We have an excellent conversation with NATRC Executive Director Sarah Smith about the sport of competitive trail riding. 

We discuss what NATRC (North American Trail Riding Conference) is, what competitions entail, and the history of the organization. Sarah's passion and love for the sport is contagious, and now Keagan and Keely are eager to try it out themselves!

If you enjoy this podcast, please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you're listening to HFH! As a growing podcast, we rely on your feedback and support. You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram!

You can learn more about NATRC on their website: natrc.org

In this episode of History from Horseback, step into the world of the Scythians. As the original horse-riding warriors of the Eurasian steppes, their prowess and culture influenced generations long before the Mongols or the Huns.

We’ll explore the rise of the Scythians from the 9th century BCE, tracing their meteoric dominance as master horsemen who revolutionized warfare by introducing mounted cavalry. Discover how these fierce nomads not only conquered enemies like the Assyrians but also earned the fascination and fear of the Greeks, who saw them as both brutal and captivating figures. We'll discuss the legendary Scythian women warriors—likely the inspiration for the mythic Amazons—and delve into how these formidable riders balanced life on the move, innovation in battle, and a unique society where even mares’ milk held a special place.

So, mount up and join us as we uncover the captivating story of the Scythians—the first lords of the steppe. 🐎⚔️🌾

If you enjoy this podcast, please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you're listening to HFH! As a growing podcast, we rely on your feedback and support. You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram!

Sources for today's episode:

• “The Horse: A Galloping History of Humanity” by Timothy Winegard
• “Hoof Beats: How Horses Shaped Human History” by William Taylor
• “Introducing the Scythians” from The British Museum

As October deepens and the chill of fall sets in, join Keely and Keagan for a spooky journey into the world of horse-like monsters from folklore! In this Halloween-themed episode of “History from Horseback”, we explore the haunting legends that have been passed down through generations, from the misty lochs of Scotland to the dark rainforests of the Philippines.

We begin with the tale of the kelpie, a beautiful yet deadly water spirit that lures unsuspecting victims into its grasp. From there, we’ll travel across cultures, discovering creatures like the shape-shifting nix, the eerie nuckelavee, the mischievous tikbalang, and more. Whether it's a creature that haunts your local river, a trickster lurking in the forest, or a myth that still leaves you looking over your shoulder, these legendary beings remind us that the natural world holds both beauty and danger.

So, saddle up and prepare to dive into these captivating legends of water spirits, tricksters, and eerie equines—just in time for the spookiest time of the year! 🎃🐎👻

If you enjoy this podcast, please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you're listening to HFH! As a growing podcast, we rely on your feedback and support. You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram!

In this episode of History from Horseback, Keagan and Keely saddle up and ride back in time to 1860, when the Pony Express was born—a short-lived venture that would forever change the American frontier. As the Civil War loomed, California's strategic importance became critical, but its isolation on the West Coast posed a serious threat to the Union. That's when Russell, Majors, and Waddell, a freighting firm, devised an audacious solution: a 2,000-mile mail route across the Wild West, delivered by horseback riders.

Despite its brief run—just a year and a half—the Pony Express became a cultural icon, symbolizing the grit and spirit of the American frontier. In this episode, we explore the historical context that made the Pony Express so crucial, the challenges riders faced, and why it left an enduring legacy. 

We also take a look at some legendary riders, like the famed "Pony Bob" Haslam, whose feats of endurance still amaze to this day. And we’ll answer the question: why did such an expensive, risky venture come to an end so quickly? Tune in as we dig deep into the history, the challenges, and the surprising ways the Pony Express still influences us today.

Join us on this ride through history as we explore the legacy of the Pony Express. 🐎💨

If you enjoy this podcast, please take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you're listening to HFH! As a growing podcast, we rely on your feedback and support. You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram!

Sources for today’s episode:

• National Pony Express Association
• Pony Express National Museum
• Riders of the Pony Express by Ralph Moody