The Palæopathology
of Horse Husbandry

Introduction

This project continues research that Dr Levine has been working on since 1985, the general aim of which is to develop methods for identifying the early stages and development of horse husbandry and its social and economic impact.

More specifically, the goal of this project is to investigate the use of palaeopathology as a means of helping us to learn about the relationship between people and horses from ancient times to the present.

The basic premise is that the horse did not evolve in nature to carry a person on its back or to pull wagons and carriages. Therefore, carrying out these activities causes unnatural physical stresses, at least some of which we expect to see in the form of bone abnormalities. Furthermore, because the stresses associated with riding are different from those connected with traction, we suggest that if horses were used primarily for one or the other, this could be reflected in their bones.