Greece
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Pony |
Greek history and mythology are confusingly
interwoven, but both resound with references to horses. Yet no fossils
remain to suggest horses were indigenous, and the mountainous terrain is largely
unsuitable for horse breeding.
The sea god, Poseidon, created the first horse, and the sun
god's chariot was drawn across the sky by a team. Pluto had his black
steeds, and Hercules' speedy animal possessed human feet and voice. When
Achilles scolded his horse, it promptly foretold his death.
The first horses probably arrived through war and
trading. Homer writes of Thracian animals, "shining like rays of sun at
dawn" and "swifter than the storm." A war chariot and pair, of about 1600
B.C. is depicted on a tomb at Mycenae, and Xenophon was propounding excellent
principles of horsemanship by 300 B.C. His instruction to mount by
grasping the mane behind the ears, indicates small horses, as do the famous
Parthenon frieze riders--whose feet hang near their sturdy mounts'
knees. Possibly for this reason the original war chariots were only for
transporting the warriors, and the subsequent, ridden war-horses were employed
for reconnaissance. By 350 BC, Phillip of Macedon's cavalry was
renowned, and his son Alexander the Great, mastered and owned the celebrated
charger, Bucephalus. Chariot racing quickly became the dominating
sport. To win was the highest honor, and the victor was then lauded by
poets. (For more info on Greek history and mythology, see
Profiles.)
Modern Greece is not horse-minded. However, there are
Pindos ponies, Oriental in type and around 13 hands, ridden and farm-worked in
the hilly Epirus and Thessaly districts; and sturdy, economical Peneia ponies
working the land and toting packs in part of the Peloponnese. Used with
donkey mares the stallions father good hinnies. I have also read that
there is still a Greek horse (with both plains and mountain types), as well as
horses imported from Yugoslavia and Hungary.
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