Rupestrian Art

Horses are the most frequent animal to be depicted in the earliest art. Humans probably hunted them to extinction in Europe.

Ancient Horses

No one knows what ancient, wild horses were like. Adapting to the harsh environment of Mongolia makes modern wild horses look like this.

Chariots

Steppe peoples used these to hunt speedy antelopes. They didn’t know how to ride horseback.

Petroglyphs, Kazakhstan, 2nd Millennium BC

An Archer

Hermitage Museum, collection of Peter the Great, 4th or 5th century BCE, South Russia, Gold

Dying Warrior

Hermitage Museum, 4th or 5th century BCE, Siberia, Gold

The Lancer

Hermitage Museum, 4th or 5th century BCE, Southern Russia, Gold

Tribute Horses

British Museum, Medes bringing tribute horses to the Persian Court, Persepolis, 4th century BCE

Royal Horse

British Museum, Sakyamuni leaves his horse behind, Amaravati, 2nd century AD

Cavalry Trooper

Tomb of the First Emperor, Xi’An, China, Terra Cotta, 1st Century BCE

Han Horse

The Han Wudi Emperor sent an expedition to Ferghana to acquire blood sweating horses. This bronze from the 2nd Century AD represents the ideal sought by the Han. Lanzhou Museum, Gansu Province

Kushan Horse

Refugees from western China, the Kushans dealt in horses across the Hindu Kush Mountains, selling to both Chinese and India rulers. Amaravati, 2nd Century AD. British Museum

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Taizong

The six war horses that carried the Taizong Emperor of the Tang to victory over the Turks are buried in his mausoleum, and depicted in basrelief here. University of Pennsylvannia Museum.

Lady Polo Player

Aristocratic ladies of the Tang court betrayed their steppe heritage by participating in the rough and tumble of the polo game. “San-Cai” Porcelain, Victoria and Albert Museum

Imperial Favourite

Court painter Han Gan portrayed Night Shining White, a favourite horse of the Tang Xuanzong Emperor. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York