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Horses are fascinating animals; a little big to have at home indeed, but nevertheless considered as domestic animals on fairly equal standing with home pets, they have fascinated mankind for thousands of years. Naturally, they have become a status symbol for reasons that go far back in time, but why? When was this special appreciation initiated? When did this relationship between horse an man began?

Love for equestrian things has uncertain origins, but all indications point to Mesopotamia: it seems that Sumerians referred to horses and their related species and derived hybrids as equids in general, using the word 'anse' in combination with adjectives that were used to differentiate each species on the basis of their apparent geographical origins. Thus, donkeys were considered as 'equids from the plains' or 'equids from the desert' and horses were 'equids from the hills' because apparently, they were found in greater numbers in mountainous regions.

Over time, technological advances led to the production of light structures and wheels used to build new carts and then chariots, so a differentiation was made between different kinds of vehicles, usually associated to specific kinds of animals used to move them. The Accadians referred to a 'sumbu' when talling or thinking about an ox cart or a cart driven by mules or donkeys, while a 'narkabtu' was a more expensive, horse-driven light chariot.

And this was the beginning of the symbolic value of the horse, for 'narkabtus' were only for those who could really afford them; thus, horses became not only useful domestic animals, but potent status symbols, and over time, their status began to grow as military officers and princes began to associate their images and military prowess with the presence of good horses.

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