The HORSE was first domesticated by tribesmen on the Asian steppes. It was used by these tribes for transportation and warfare, and with its help they overwhelmed the proto-civilizations just rising in southeast Europe and the Middle East. HORSEBACK RIDING was in turn acquired by the conquered peoples and this skill accompanied the spread of civilization. In areas where the HORSE could be bred, it was extremely useful for transport and agriculture. Only in the last one hundred years has the HORSE been replaced by motor vehicles as a draft animal and mount for Cavalry.
