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The first evidence of horses in warfare dates from Eurasia between 4000 and 3000 BC. A Sumerian illustration of warfare from 2500 BC depicts some type of equine pulling wagons.
- Sergeant Reckless
- Comanche
- Cincinnati
- Copenhagen
- Palomo
- Marengo
- Kasztanka
- Traveller
- Chetak
- Bucephalus
Sergeant Reckless is a Mongolian mare that participated in the Korean War. She was purchased by the United States Marine Corps in 1952 and was used to transport supplies and evacuate soldiers during hostilities. The mare was injured twice, but despite this, she continued to carry loads and people. Reckless received her nickname for her fearless nat...
The US Army bought Comanche in St. Louis, Missouri in 1868 when the horse caught the attention of Captain Myles Keogh of the 7th Cavalry. He therefore bought it as his personal mount. In September 1868, when the Army fought with the Natives on the plains of Kansas, Comanche was wounded. His wounds were found only after returning to camp. Keogh admi...
Cincinnati was one of Union General Ulysses Grant’s horses during the Civil War. The horse was the son of Lexington, one of America’s fastest horses. Cincinnati quickly became a favorite with Grant. Cincinnati became famous after Grant rode him to negotiate Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Court House.
Copenhagen was named in honor of the second battle of Copenhagen, which the British won. Lord Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington, acquired Copenhagen in 1813. Copenhagen won the love and respect of British soldiers by welcoming them with joyful neighing. The most famous day in the life of Copenhagen and his rider occurred on June 18, 1815 dur...
Palomo was the tall white horse of Simon Bolivar, the “liberator” of Latin America. A peasant named Casilda who, according to local beliefs, dreamed of giving a horse to a great general, presented him to Bolivar. Palomo was Bolivar’s faithful horse on many campaigns during the liberation struggle. After a long march, Palomo tragically died in the c...
Marengo is one of the most famous war horses that ever belonged to Napoleon Bonaparte. And it seems that this small Arabian stallion was the French emperor’s favorite. Marengo came to France in 1799, and in 1800 he was named after the battle of Marengo between France and Austria. Marengo accompanied Napoleon on numerous campaigns, including the bat...
Kasztanka was a famous horse that belonged to the Polish war hero Marshal Jozef Pilsudski. The horse was Pilsudski’s faithful companion in many battles during the First World War, although she reacted nervously to artillery fire. Kasztanka was attached to her owner and obeyed only him. The last time Pilsudski traveled on Kasztanka was on November 1...
Traveller was the most famous horse of Confederate General Robert Lee during the American Civil War. Major Thomas L. Broun, by Lee’s orders, bought the horse in the spring of 1861 for $175 (approximately $4,545 today). Broun recalled of Traveller: “[He] was greatly admired in camp for his rapid, springy walk, his high spirit, bold carriage, and mus...
Chetak belonged to Maharana Pratap, the Rajput King of India. On 21 June 1576, during the battle of Haldighati between the Rajputs and Mughals, the stallion was killed. Pratap loved his horse and after his death erected a monument to him in Haldighati. In local ballads and fairy tales, Chetak is a hero and is referred to as the “blue horse.”
Read another story from us: The Real War Horse: WWI Grave Saved From Development Plans Bucephalus is one of the first famous horses in history. He was the favorite of one of the greatest generals of antiquity, Alexander the Great. According to the legends, Bucephalus was presented to Alexander when Alexander was 13 years old. He accompanied his mas...
Dec 4, 2017 · Let’s take a look at the history of horses in the United States military. Horses have served in nearly every capacity during war, including transportation, reconnaissance missions, cavalry charges, packing supplies, and communications.
Nov 2, 2022 · As far as we can tell, horses were first domesticated around 6,000 years ago. Probably first used for farming, their usefulness in warfare soon became apparent. One of the first recordings of...
Horses were probably first used to pull chariots in battle starting around 1500 BC. But it wasn't until around 900 BC that warriors themselves commonly fought on horseback. Among the first mounted archers and fighters were the Scythians, a group of nomadic Asian warriors who often raided the ancient Greeks.
For more than 3,000 years, a warrior on horseback or horse-drawn chariot was the ultimate weapon. Time after time, from Asia to Europe to the Americas, the use of horses in war has changed the balance of power between civilizations.
For nearly a millennium, warhorses were used almost exclusively to pull chariots, but after about 850 B.C. chariotry began to decline. Horses, however, never lost their usefulness in battle.
