Wild And Feral Horses
By Jack Johnson

While it is largely agreed that the domestication of took place by 2,000 BCE, there are competing theories as to just how far back domestication may have taken place in various portions of the world. The earliest evidence of horse domestication dates back to around 4500 BC and comes from Central Asia.

Wild Horses

Today, most considered to be “wild horses” are actually feral horses. Feral animals are those with domesticated ancestors but were born and continue to live in the wild themselves. Many times feral have been living in the wild for generations. There are also some truly wild whose original ancestors never have been domesticated.

The Forest Horse or Diluvial Horse is believed to have evolved into Equus ferus germanicus and may be a large contributor to the evolution of heavy work used in areas of Europe. There is also a theory that many proto developed with adaptations to their environments before domestication of any kind took place.

There are many competing theories about the initial domestication and development of various types of horses. In addition to the Forest Horse there are three other horse types thought to have developed long ago. These include:

• Small heavyset pony sized horses. These sturdy have heavy coats, arose in Europe and adapted to damp, cold climates. These are believed to have resembled and be connected to today’s Shetland pony.
• Sturdy, dun-colored the size of large ponies from the northern regions of Asia. These are predecessors to Przewalski’s and Tarpan horses.
• Taller,
  
  
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  agile and slim that arose in western Asia. These adapted to dry, hot climates and are believed to be the predecessors of modern Arabian and Akhal-Teke.

  Feral Horses

  There are several types of feral in the western United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. In the United States and Canada feral horse are often referred to as “mustangs”. In Australia feral are sometimes called brumbies. Many times feral are named after their location, such as Sable Island Horses from Nova Scotia, Canada.