Field Museum exhibit traces role of horses

Posted February 20, 2011 10:00 pm

By Samantha Nelson

In southern India, village potters created horse figures as offerings to local gods, who are said to patrol village borders and protect people from harm. This horse is trimmed with garlands, like the stone horses in grand Indian temples. Courtesy of the Field Museum

Most Americans today no longer have a real horse sense.

In the high-tech digital world, there is limited exposure to horses, such as seen in movies or other entertainment like horse races. The Field Museum's temporary exhibit, “The Horse,” serves as a reminder of how important these animals have been to human history.

“Humans and horses have had a very profound relationship for thousands of years,” said Tom Skwerski, project manager for exhibitions. “We wouldn't be where we are today without the horse.”

Outside of the exhibit, a high-definition projection shows a horse in motion shot at 1,000 frames per second. The video is accompanied by sounds of thundering hoofs and whinnying.

“You really get a sense of the majesty and power of these animals,” Skwerski said. “They're beautiful.”

The first part of the exhibit is devoted to the evolution of the horse. Dating back 55 million years, the horse family started with animals the size of a small dog and species that had multiple toes rather than a single hoof. Visitors can view the ancient horse species in a diorama containing life-size models. You can also touch casts of teeth to see the differences between horses that fed on tree leaves and berries and the modern ones that graze on grass.

Artifacts show how horses and prehistoric humans interacted. More than 17,500 years ago humans hunted horses for food. The animals appeared in 33,000-year-old cave art that likely had religious or ritual significance.

The second part of the exhibit is devoted to domestication. A timeline shows when humans domesticated other animals: taming dogs 15,000 years ago, sheep 10,000 years ago, cattle 8,000 years ago and horses around 6,000 years ago.

“Horses were domesticated very late,” Skwerski said. “None of the other domestic animals have had the impact of civilization that horses have. “

A section on the qualities of horses shows how humans managed to tame such a larger and stronger animal. The key is using horses' natural social tendencies. Horses groom each other and a human builds trust by grooming them. Horses will bond with humans the same way they would bond with members of the herd, and they take cues from humans the same way they would follow a dominant horse.

You can also learn about a horse's anatomy by studying a large model and finding out your height in hands, the measurement used to judge a horse's size. For a more detailed view, a pair of touch screens connected to a large projector let you learn about the horse's eyes, ears and digestive system.

“The Horse” explores how human society was shaped by our relationship with these animals. Displays include a model of a horse decked out in armor for medieval warfare, a statue of a Japanese samurai riding a horse and ancient Greek pottery showing mounted combat. The exhibit emphasizes how important horses have been throughout the world.

Horses gave the Spanish conquistadors a huge advantage against the Incas, showed status among Plains tribes and are depicted in figures used as religious offerings in India. In American cities, horses were used to pull fire engines and street cars.

The exhibit ends by exploring horses as people today are mostly likely to encounter them.

“Horses aren't used for warfare anymore,” Skwerski said. “They don't pull plows anymore. The human-horse relationship nowadays is one of recreation or leisure.”

Displays show how humans have integrated horses in entertainment and competition since ancient times, ranging from chariot races to rodeos and the Kentucky Derby. One video shows images of people riding around the world, while another features portraits of how horses are used today by police officers and for therapy.

Children can get on a saddle to have their pictures taken pretending to ride before exiting into a gift shop stocked with horse toys, clothing, jewelry and more.

A traveling exhibit opened at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City and has been well-received at all of its stops.

“It's a very popular topic,” Skwerski said. “Who doesn't like horses?”

An Inca cup from the 1500s depicts a Spanish conquistador on horseback. Courtesy of the Field Museum

This diorama exhibit shows horses that roamed the Great Plains of North America some 10 million years ago. Two large Dinohippus can be seen grazing on grass, while the three-toed Hypohippus tiptoes through the forest, nibbling on leaves. A small, three-toed Nannippus ate both grass and leaves. Courtesy of the Field Museum

&#8220;The Horse&#8221;

Where: The Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, (312) 922-9410, fieldmuseum.org

Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Aug. 14

Admission: Discovery Pass &36;22 for adults, &36;18 seniors and students, &36;15 kids ages 3-11

Article Comments

Article Categories
Chicago Entertainment Lifestyle News Region Travel

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.