February 23, 2012
1 min read
Add Us On GoogleAdd SciAmA Visual History of Ancient Miniature Horses [Slide Show]
Eight equines that paved the way for the massive modern horse
By Katherine Harmon
New research suggests that one of the earliest horses started out small—then got even smaller. As temperatures rose 55 million years ago during the ancient Eocene epoch, a North American horse species shrank from the size of a small dog to that of a house cat.
It would take millions of years and dozens of different genera until nature produced something approaching the modern horse (Equus ferus). The leggy show-jumper and powerful rodeo steed are of course products of modern breeding on top of eons of evolution. But the road to the arena and racetrack had humble beginnings.
View a slide show of eight ancient miniature horses.
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Read more about the new findings on the smallest horse of them all.
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