The horse has evolved over the last 45 to 55 million years. From a small, multi-toed creature, to a large 1,200 pound symbol of beauty and strength, horses have a unique history. They have played a vital role in the lives of people since before domestication. Take a moment to learn a little history with these incredible horse facts from the past!

1. An Egyptian pharaoh, Ramses II, is recorded as having one of the first horse stables. It held over 460 horses that were used for hunting, war, and pleasure. The stable covered 180,000 square feet.

2. Horses were first domesticated roughly 6,000 years ago.

3.  Eohippos, known as the dawn horse, weighed only 50 pounds and stood just 2 feet tall. They were found roaming woodlands in North America and Western Europe nearly 50 million years ago.

4. Up to a dozen species of horses lived in the Great Plains of North America about 10 million years ago.

5. Held in Greece, the 33rd ancient Olympic Games had horse racing as one of the sports. It took place in 648 BC.

6. General Robert E. Lee rode a horse named Traveller. He was a grey American Saddlebred known for his endurance and courage.

7. There are no native horses to Australia. In fact, they didn’t arrive until the eighteenth century with settlers.

8. In 1915, Esther Stace jumped her horse over a 6’6″ obstacle in her side saddle.

9. Beautiful Jim Key, a famous horse, toured the country from 1897 to 1906. He could write, read, spell, recite the bible, and tell time.

10. Alexander the Great owned a horse named Bucephalus. This horse was said to be wild and untrainable, but Alexander the Great claimed he could tame him. The horse was shiny black with a large star and blue eyes.

Throughout time, horses have been making a difference in the world. There are some amazing horses that definitely stand out in history. What was your favorite fact?