The horse-human relationship started as a prey-predator dynamic. Humans domesticated horses some 6,000 years ago, and over time, we have created more than 200 breeds, from the powerful Clydesdale to the graceful Arabian. As we have shaped horses to suit our needs on battlefields, farms and elsewhere, these animals have shaped human history.
Investigate the extraordinary qualities that have made horses so useful to humans. View astonishing artifacts that highlight the horse’s role in cultures worldwide, including a bronze figurine depicting China’s legendary celestial horse from the Han dynasty, which is dated as early as 2nd-century BCE to 2nd-century AD.
Witness how the bond between horses and humans continues today in therapy and sport, and learn what you can do to protect the lives of the last remaining wild horses.
In the West Coast premiere of The Horse, learn more about the stories and science behind these legendary, exceptional, and captivating animals.
The Horse is organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York, in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, United Arab Emirates; the Canadian Museum of Civilization, Gatineau-Ottawa; The Field Museum, Chicago; and the San Diego Natural History Museum. The San Diego Natural History Museum thanks the following sponsors for their generous support of the San Diego exhibit: Del Mar racetrack, Blenheim EquiSports, City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture, The WWW Foundation, and The Walter J. and Betty C. Zable Foundation.