On Jun. 7, 2024, the Institute of Evolutionary Biology in Barcelona announced an analysis of genome data from 475 ancient horses and 77 modern ones revealed that domestication actually occurred twice – the first time being a dead end – and traced the rise of horse-based mobility to around 2200 BC in Eurasia, centuries later than previously thought.

The genomic evidence showed that horses were first domesticated in Central Asia – northern Kazakhstan to be precise – about 5,500 years ago by people from what is called the Botai culture. The domestication of a second equine bloodline began roughly 4,700 years ago in the western Russian steppes, trot

The genomic evidence showed that horses were first domesticated in Central Asia – northern Kazakhstan to be precise – about 5,500 years ago by people from what is called the Botai culture. But this domestication was based on obtaining meat and milk, not movement, and did not spread. The feral Przewalski’s horses of Mongolia descended from those Botai horses.

The domestication of a second equine bloodline began roughly 4,700 years ago in the western Russian steppes, trotting along for a period of centuries before horse-based mobility suddenly galloped across Eurasia about 4,200 years ago, the study showed. All modern domestic horses have their origins in this event.

The genomic evidence revealed a shift in breeding practices at that time to satisfy the demand for horses. People doubled horse production capacity by halving the time between generations from eight years to four, according to molecular archaeologist and study co-author Ludovic Orlando of the Center for Anthropobiology and Genomics of Toulouse in France.