Lucknow: Around 4,500 to 5,000 years ago, humans began a partnership with horses that transformed transportation, hunting, and warfare—paving the way for a new phase in human history. But what made these powerful animals suitable for domestication has remained a puzzle.
A new study, published on August 28 in Science, suggests that a genetic mutation may have played a decisive role in making early horses calmer and easier to ride.
The international research team, led by Ludovic Orlando, Director of the Anthropobiology and Genomics Centre in Toulouse and senior scientist at France’s National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), analyzed hundreds of ancient horse genomes spanning 6,000 years of domestication.
Their analysis revealed 266 genetic markers linked to behavior, body structure, coat color, athletic ability, and disease resistance. Crucially, they identified a gene region that began to show strong selection about 5,000 years ago—corresponding to the earliest phase of domestication. The same region influences behavior in mice, hinting that early horse breeders may have unconsciously favored animals that were calmer and more manageable.
The findings not only shed light on how horses became rideable but may also guide present-day breeding and conservation efforts. As Orlando noted, “By going back in time, you can see the impact of such breeding practices on the modern world.”
