The Horse, a comprehensive exhibition on the enduring bond between horses
and humanity, explores early interactions between horses and humans and shows
how horses have, over time, influenced civilization including major changes
in warfare, trade, transportation, agriculture, sports, and many other facets
of human life. The exhibition showcases spectacular fossils, models, dioramas,
and cultural objects from around the world, including many from the Museum's
extraordinary collections.
Highlights:
- A high-definition video projection shot at 1000 frames per second that
captures, in slow motion, every rippling muscle of a beautiful thoroughbred
horse
- A life-size video and computer interactive gives visitors a peek into a
moving horse to learn about its anatomy and biology
- A stunning 220-square-foot diorama depicts some of the horse species that
existed 10 million years ago in Nebraska
- Over 150 cultural objects from around the world, including a full suit of
armor from 15th-century Germany
- Numerous interactive stations through the exhibition
Sections:
The Evolution of Horses
A spectacular diorama helps visitors examine the evolution and origins of the
horse family, beginning 55 million years ago.
Horses and Hunters
Prehistoric tools and cave paintings reveal that our first relationship with
horses was as hunters.
Domesticating Horses
A re-creation of an archaeological site from Kazahkstan explains how we first
domesticated horses.
The Nature of Horses
The extraordinary qualities that have made horses so valuable to humans are
explored through a dazzling skeleton mount of a rearing horse and a life-size
interactive allowing visitors to learn about horse anatomy.
How We Shaped Horses, How Horses Shaped Us
Five subsections - warfare, work, status and spirituality, trade and transportation,
and sports - examine how horses and humans have influenced each other, using
an impressive array of artifacts and skeletons from around the world.
An Enduring Bond
A discussion of protecting modern horses, a touching video, and a spectacular
sculpture show how humans and horses have a bond that endures to this day.
The Horse is organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New
York, in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage;
the Canadian Museum of Civilization, Gatineau-Ottawa; The Field Museum, Chicago;
and the San Diego Natural History Museum.