Barry Cunlife - The Scythians

bodies clothed in skins
of horses could be present in any herd. At Pazyryk most numerous were the tough
herd animals, not too far removed from the wild Przewalski’s horse, but there were
also thoroughbreds, perhaps acquired from outside the region by exchange. Horses
suitable for cavalry use and riding horses for everyday use can also be distinguished.
Details of hoof growth show that the more valued beasts were penned during the
winter and provided with special feed while the herd horses were left out to look after
themselves.
Work horses needed special training and this is nowhere better illustrated than in
the frieze of the silver-gilt amphorae found in the kurgan of Chertomlÿk (Gallery, no.
10), where the man/horse relationship is brilliantly depicted with wild horses, manes
untrimmed, being caught with lassos, while the trained horses, with short-trimmed
manes, are given more specialist training, the saddled beast being hobbled to restrict
its movement.
8.16 Frieze of figures applied to the shoulder of the bronze vessel from Chertomlÿk (see Gallery, no. 10)
showing various stages in the training of horses.
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