History of Horses in England Through the Seventeenth Century
The history of the horse in England is inseparable from the history of the English people. Horses influenced the way the early inhabitants of Great Britain worked, traveled, and fought. The monarchy, soldiers, and invaders influenced the bloodlines, size, and speed of the animals. Therefore, to examine the horse’s history, human history must be examined simultaneously.
There are several breeds of ponies that pre-date the human inhabitants of Great Britain. These ponies are the Dartmoor and Exmoor. The Exmoor is believed to be the oldest of the pure native breeds of Great Britain. These ponies are also believed to be the oldest pure descendants of the ponies which inhabited Britain around 100,000 years ago, and possibly before Britain became an island. The Exmoor gained its name by inhabiting the open moorland in southwest England called Exmoor. Due to the harsh weather and shelterless landscape of the moors, the Exmoor is a stocky, hardy, and strong pony with a thick main, tail, and coat. The Dartmoor is a slightly younger breed of pony than the Exmoor. The Dartmoor is a relative of the Exmoor, and is believed to have existed in Britain for over 10,000 years. Like the Exmoor, this pony is short and tough with a heavy coat.
Another stocky, hardy pony is the Shetland, which is also among the oldest of known breeds. The Shetland is believed to have been introduced to the Shetland Isles from Scandinavia before the lands were divided by water around 8,000 BC. It is possible that these ponies were crossed with ponies brought to Scotland by the Celts. The Shetland pony is extremely small, usually standing less than four feet high. However, the Shetland is very strong and resists the harshest weather with its thick mane, tail, and coat. The earliest remains of the Shetland ponies are dated around 500 BC.
There is not much known about the horse in Britain before 55 BC when Julius Caesar and his Roman soldiers invaded. Caesar discovered that the native Celtic-speaking Britons were using small, hardy horses for work such as building and plowing. These ponies are believed to be the Welsh Mountain Pony. An avid horseman, Caesar began to import Arabians, a breed native to the Middle East, and cross it with the native’s ponies. The result was the increased size of the Welsh Mountain Pony by a few inches. The ponies also became increasing agile. Also, their coats are not as thick as those of the Shetland and Exmoor ponies.
A piece of pottery, indicating the presence of the ponies in the New Forest area, has been found in Hampshire in the litter of a Roman-British pottery: “The lid of a larger water jug, identifiable as British rather than Roman workmanship and dated as first century AD, shows horsemen approaching in a highly respectful manner a terrifying female figure recognizable as the ‘horrific’ aspect of Epona, goddess of horsebreeders” (Hendricks 309). The goddess’s bloodcurdling qualities indicate that she is Celtic. New Forest is located on the English coast between Southampton and Bournemouth. The New Forest Pony is another hardy breed of pony. Though it can reach up to a foot taller than the other early breeds of ponies, it is valued mostly for its impressive strength.
The Roman occupation of northern Britain was constantly being challenged by the Picts, who came from what is now Scotland. Therefore, in 120 AD, Emperor Hadrian decided to build a wall about fifteen feet high that would stretch across Britain from one coast to the other. However, the Romans soon found that the native ponies were too small to work efficiently at carrying large and heavy loads for long distances. The Romans went to the Netherlands to employ men to help build the wall. They hired men from Friesland, and their horses, a large, black breed known as Friesians came with them. The Friesians were then left on the island when the Romans withdrew. The Friesians bred with the ponies such as the Welsh Mountain and New Forest. As a result, the Fell pony, the legendary Old English Black horse, came into existence. The Old English Black horse “seems to be a native development of the British war horse, whose strength, courage, and aptitude for discipline were praised by chroniclers of the Roman legions” (Hendricks 380). This horse was also used as a jouster and a charger during the Medieval Period. The Fell pony is stocky and strong and is used as a pack and harness horse. It’s full mane and tail and small pricked ears resemble that of the Friesian.
A snaffle bit and a spur were found in an ancient burial ground between Bath and London has been dated as third century AD. Since these items were found near the supposed burial site of King Coel, they are believed to be his or that of a Roman soldier. It would make sense to assume that the spur and bit belonged to a Roman soldier because it was not until around 630 AD that riding horses becomes popular among the native Britons. Venerable Bede records that until this time, people drove their horses or walked beside them. It is possible that until this time, the ponies of Great Britain were simply too small to be ridden by grown adults. The Romans, however, had been riding their horses for several centuries and brought this skill with them to Britain. The nobility were the first to begin riding, making it a popular mode of transportation and recreation.
Once Britons began riding, they began to use their horse for war as well as work. The very first mounted warriors were in the service of the church in the eighth century: “None the priests were allowed to the rites and raise a man to the status of a knight, or caballarii, as he was then called” (Vernam 137). It was not, however, until the tenth century that “conferring the Order of Knighthood” became the king’s responsibility. In 924, Athelstan, the first Saxon king of England, also became the first monarch to initiate knight.
The growing popularity of horses and written records prompted two of the first written references to horses in England. In 1012, the first written reference to the Dartmoor pony is found in the will of the Saxon Bishop Aelfwold of Credition. Shortly thereafter, in 1086, the first reference to the Exmoor pony is made in the Doomsday Book, which contains information about the daily life, possessions, and the division of land during the reign of William I.
King Stephen, who reigned from 1135 to 1154 AD was instrumental in developing the bloodline that would later produce the Thoroughbred. He began importing horses from the Middle East, Spain, and Africa. These “royal mares and stallions” were referred to in English manuscripts as “hot blooded” (Hendricks 173). Though the Thoroughbred would not emerge as an actual breed until several centuries later, its roots can be traced back to the imported horses of King Stephen’s stables.
King John I reigned from 1199-1216. He imported around one hundred stallions, mostly from Holland and Flanders. These horses, along with the Old English Black horse are supposed to have been responsible for the development of the Shire, a heavy draft horse developed in the Central Counties or Shires. During the reign of King John I, these extremely large horses were used in war: “Large, strong horses were needed to carry horse soldiers, who, combined with their armor, weighed upward of four hundred pounds” (Hendricks 381). The Shire is believed by some to be the purest descendent of the Old English Black Horse.
During the fourteenth century, jousting, tournaments, and riding for pleasure became popular. Men began to keep separate horses for war and for sport. No longer a simple necessity, riding horses became a pastime. In 1397, King Richard II is portrayed in a painting amongst a party of riders. One of these riders is mounted on a “pale chestnut-roan with chestnut spots” (Hendricks 83). This picture is one of the first records of the British Spotted Horse, or British Appaloosa. The British Spotted Horse is believed to be a descendent of the Jennet, a breed native to Spain.
In the fifteenth century, extravagant spurs began to appear. These loose rowel spurs became popular among knights as symbols of romance and adventure. Spurs were awarded to the knights for valor and bravery by their king or feudal lord. Knights were in high demand at this time. The beginning of the century saw the Hundred Years War, and the end of the century saw the War of the Roses. Also during this time, the government worked to increase the size and numbers of their horses in order to carry more armor and soldiers to battle.
The sixteenth century saw the development of the Suffolk Punch and the Hackney horse breeds. The Tudor’s developed the Hackney as a trotter and a carriage horse by breeding the Norfolk Trotter with the Yorkshire Hackney. The Hackney horse has a delicate and elegant high stepping gaits. Ironically, the word Hackney comes from the Norman French word haquenai, “which was applied in the Middle Ages to riding animals of the humblest caste” (100). The Suffolk Punch is a heavy draft horse which originated in East Anglia. The earliest mention of this horse occurs in 1506. The Suffolk Punch is believed to be the oldest breed of heavy horse in Great Britain which still exists in its original state. The Suffolk was used mainly as a workhorse to plow the tough clay soil in East Anglia. Also in the sixteenth century, men from Friesland were employed to drain the fens around the Lincolnshire area. Again, they brought their Friesian horses with them. It is believed that these horses further influenced the development of the Shire.
The Roman occupation of Great Britain introduced horse racing to the island. However, it was not until the early seventeenth century that organized races were held. King James organized the first horse races in Newmarket. Races were held on holidays and endured far beyond King James’s reign. He realized the military importance of “improving the speed and stamina of British horses and encouraged the importation of good foreign horses to strengthen the breed” (Silver 130). This importation of horses, mainly Arabians, Barbs, and Turks, led to the improvement of the Thoroughbred.
King Charles I began to patronize races after the reign of King James. Though he was not the avid horseman that James was, Charles I was influential to horse racing. Prior to Charles I, the winners of the races won bells which were highly valued and respected. In 1630, however, Charles I began the tradition of awarding a silver cup to the winner of the races so that it would be possible to drink to the winner’s health. His successor, Charles II embraced horse racing: “He is the only English king to have won a race on the flat with himself as jockey, and one of the Newmarket courses existing today, the Rowley Mile, is named for his favorite hack, Old Rowley” (Silver 130).
The early history of England proves that horses play an important role in the development of the people and the country. From the small, hardy Dartmoor and Exmoor ponies to the large heavy draft breeds of the Shire and Suffolk Punch, each equine helps to define specific eras. The heavy coated small ponies represent the native peoples struggle to survive. The heavy draft horses represent the importance of agriculture and commerce, as well as the presence of war. The Thoroughbred symbolizes the transition from the era of knighthood to a time when horses could be used for pastime and pleasure.
Sources/Works Cited
Ayton, Andrew. Knights and Warhorses. Woodbridge, UK: Boydell Press, 1994.
Hendricks, Bonnie L. International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 1995.
Silver, Caroline. Guide to Horses of the World. New York: Exeter Books, 1976.
Vernam, Glenn R. Man on Horseback. Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press, 1964.
