History from Horseback

In today's episode, Keagan and Keely conclude our WW2 story with the risky rescue of the horses from Nazi possession. (Content Warning: Discussion of mental health struggles) If you enjoy this podcast, please ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SUPPORT OUR PATREON⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you're listening to HFH! We greatly appreciate your feedback and support. You can also find us on  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠F...

In WW2, the Nazis stole thousands of prized purebred horses to fuel their vision of a “master race.” And in the war’s aftermath, a select group of horse lovers rescued them. This is the story of the priceless stallions that were kidnapped by the Nazis, and those who worked tirelessly to save them. If you enjoy this podcast, please ⁠⁠⁠⁠SUPPORT OUR PATREON⁠⁠⁠⁠ or take a moment to rate and subscribe...

In 1913 there were over 70,000 horses and ponies living underground in Britain alone. These were the pit ponies - equines that worked in coal mines across England, Wales, Ireland, Canada, the US, and Australia. In today's episode, Keagan and Keely discuss the realities of what these ponies faced, and dispel a couple of myths along the way. Warning: This episode does contain some discussion of anim...

Keely is still on vacation, so today's episode is going to be special for a few reasons. Firstly, we welcome Keagan's partner Jay who has very little knowledge of horses to the podcast. Secondly, this episode is a video so that you don't miss out on what we are seeing. Keagan and Jay rank medieval horse art based on their realism and on "vibes." If you enjoy this podcast, ple...

In this episode Keagan and Keely explore the military career of a the most decorated non-human animal to serve in the US military. Saddle up and join us for a classic war story - but this time our main character is a Korean pony with a big attitude and a bigger heart. If you enjoy this podcast, please ⁠⁠SUPPORT OUR PATREON⁠⁠ or take a moment to rate and subscribe from wherever you're listening to...

In this episode of History from Horseback, Keagan and Keely welcome guests Susan Friedland and Amanda Geci to chat about Chincoteague ponies! Many animal and horse-lovers alike grew up reading the book "Misty of Chincoteague" or other horse-themed novels written by Marguerite Henry. But some may be surprised to learn that the islands of Chincoteague and Assateague are real places that continue to...

In the 2nd part of out Przewalski's Horse topic, Keagan an Keely discuss the incredible comeback of a horse species nearly pushed to extinction. What once might as well have been a mythical unicorn now runs free in its native habitat once again. Yet the Przewalski's horse still faces hardship as a species, and efforts are still being made to protect the species and the delicate ecosystem it exists...

Once nearly extinct, the Przewalski’s horse is now a conservation success story. In part 1 of this 2-part episode (there was a lot of material to cover, can you blame us?) , we explore how this elusive wild horse went from ancient cave paintings to viral fame. We also discuss how imperialism, scandal, and habitat loss conspired to push this species to the brink of extinction. Join us next episode...

In this episode, we welcome our guest @sidesaddlekaitlyn to the podcast to discuss riding side saddle! Kaitlyn is a side saddle rider and runs a horseback historical reenactment team called Equistry. We talk about some of the basics of riding side saddle, a brief history on the discipline, and debunk some myths surrounding side saddle. Per usual, no Keagan and Keely want to go try it... now to fin...

This episode Keagan and Keely chat about the mysterious history of horseshoes. We also get side-tracked by horses in video games, as we often do. Have you ever heard of the hipposandal? How about the umugatsu? Before we started nailing U-shaped metal plates onto horse's feet, both were used as hoof coverings. And when did we make the transition in the first place? Today's episode attempts to answe...

This episode Keagan and Keely conclude our list of rare and endangered horse breeds from North America. Many of the horses we cover in this part are Spanish Colonial horses, a breed or group of breeds that can trace their roots back to Spanish colonies and conquistadors. Many strains of Spanish Colonial horse have remained genetically isolated for centuries and are rare due to this isolation. Luck...

We did it again. We yapped so much that this topic has to be another 2-part series. This time, Keagan and Keely discuss rare and endangered horse breeds that originate in North America. There are around 400 breeds of horses in the world. Somebreeds are less known than others, because they are considered rare or endangered. The stories of how most breeds became threatened are similar to one another...

Bucephalus returns in the conclusion of our first 2-part episode. And I suppose we mention Alexander the Great as well. In this episode Keagan and Keely focus on the biggest battles of Alexander the Great's campaign. Without horses and a cavalry, Alexander almost certainly would not have seen the success that he did during his life.  TW: discussion of animal abuse from 39:15 - 45:26 Sources i...

Bucephalus, the trusty steed of Alexander the Great, is exalted as the most famous horse in history. In our first two parter episode, we begin with a deep dive into the life and husbandry of an ancient Greek horse. The Greeks were late to the equestrian game when it comes to successful ancient civilizations - yet they adapted to horse husbandry quickly. By exploring the earliest western literature...

In this episode of History from Horseback we welcome guest Dr. Shelby Landmark onto the podcast. She is currently the Mellon Humanities Postdoctoral Fellow for Disability Representation at National Historic Sites, located at the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt in the Hudson Valley area of New York.  We discuss how her professional interests in disability representation in media brought her clos...

Keely and Keagan are back in the saddle with a topic that most horse lovers have likely heard of. "Black Beauty" is famous for being a best-selling children's novel from the late 19th century, yet you may be shocked to hear that it was never intended to be a story only for children. Author Anna Sewell's intentions ran deeper than entertaining kids - she sought to revolutionize workhorse welfare. D...

We have a new kind of episode for our listeners today. In this episode of History from Horseback we welcome a guest onto the podcast. We have an excellent conversation with NATRC Executive Director Sarah Smith about the sport of competitive trail riding.  We discuss what NATRC (North American Trail Riding Conference) is, what competitions entail, and the history of the organization. Sarah's p...

In this episode of  History from Horseback, step into the world of the Scythians. As the original horse-riding warriors of the Eurasian steppes, their prowess and culture influenced generations long before the Mongols or the Huns. We’ll explore the rise of the Scythians from the 9th century BCE, tracing their meteoric dominance as master horsemen who revolutionized warfare by introducing moun...

As October deepens and the chill of fall sets in, join Keely and Keagan for a spooky journey into the world of horse-like monsters from folklore! In this Halloween-themed episode of “History from Horseback”, we explore the haunting legends that have been passed down through generations, from the misty lochs of Scotland to the dark rainforests of the Philippines. We begin with the tale of the kelpi...

In this episode of History from Horseback , Keagan and Keely saddle up and ride back in time to 1860, when the Pony Express was born—a short-lived venture that would forever change the American frontier. As the Civil War loomed, California's strategic importance became critical, but its isolation on the West Coast posed a serious threat to the Union. That's when Russell, Majors, and Waddell, a fre...

Today's episode is a little bit different from our usual content. In this episode, Keely and Keagan will be chatting about a couple of news stories/current events from the equestrian world. Today's stories include the mysterious discovery of two przewalski's horses, the Keeneland yearling sales, a new scientific study on horse psychology, and a woman who recieved urgent news while at a horse show....

In today's episode, Keely and Keagan uncover the long-forgotten tale of Lexington, a thoroughbred who revolutionized American horse racing long before the likes of Secretariat and War Admiral. But this isn’t just a story about a legendary racehorse; it’s an exploration into the intertwined the legacy of thoroughbreds and the often-overlooked contributions of African Americans in the horse industry...

Almost all of us have seen them in medieval movies. Shining white stallions, jet black friesians with long flowing manes, and lines of charging steeds. In this episode, Keagan and Keely delve into the world of medieval horses and the pivotal role they played in shaping European society. The image of armored warhorses, galloping into battle, has long been romanticized in films and literature. But w...

The world is full of horse lovers, and for good reason. They are strong, beautiful, and emotionally intelligent creatures that have been by humanity’s side for thousands of years. But how did the domestic horse first come about? Saddle up for the first episode of History on Horseback as Keagan and Keely go back millions of years ago to a time when horses looked more like small dogs, and follow the...