Memorial Day: Horses of War
From the thundering hooves on ancient battlefields to the ceremonial graves of warrior kings, the horse has been one of humanity’s most enduring military allies.
Archaeology gives us a unique lens into this powerful relationship, revealing how horses not only shaped the outcomes of wars but also the structure of ancient societies themselves.
Please note: The final video in this article contains graphic content that may be disturbing to some viewers. Discretion is advised.
Plate 30: Cerialis Driving the Dutch into the Rhine, from The War of the Romans Against the Batavians. Antonio Tempesta, Italian, After Otto van Veen Netherlandish, 1611.
The earliest evidence of horses in warfare dates back to the steppes of Central Asia around 2000 BCE, where nomadic cultures began using chariots pulled by domesticated horses. Excavations of kurgans (burial mounds) in this region often contain horse skeletons alongside weapons and human remains, suggesting a deep connection between warrior identity and horsemanship. One striking example comes from the Sintashta culture, where chariot burials provide some of the oldest direct archaeological evidence of organized horse warfare.
Fast forward more than 1,600 years from the early days of horse warfare on the Eurasian steppe, and we arrive at one of the most legendary horse-and-rider partnerships in history: Alexander the Great and Bucephalus.
According to ancient sources, Bucephalus was not only a fierce warhorse but also a loyal companion who carried Alexander through years of campaigns across Asia. Their bond became the stuff of legend, and when Bucephalus died after the Battle of the Hydaspes in 326 BCE, Alexander honored him by founding the city of Bucephala (or Bucephalia) near the battlefield, immortalizing his horse’s name in the very geography of his empire.
Between the 11th and 16th centuries, the mounted knight rose to prominence as the dominant force in European warfare, embodying both military prowess and aristocratic identity. Equipped with heavy armor, lances, and specially bred warhorses, knights shaped the tactics and culture of the battlefield.
Horse Armor Probably Made for Count Antonio IV Collalto (1548–1620) Italian, probably Brescia ca. 1580–90 and later. On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 371.
The First World War marked the beginning of the end for traditional cavalry.
By the war’s end in 1918, the image of the charging cavalryman had become a relic of the past. Horses still served in logistical roles, pulling wagons and artillery, but their days as frontline warriors were over. Industrial-age weaponry had fundamentally changed the nature of combat, rendering cavalry charges not only ineffective but often tragically obsolete.
Horses were more than engines of war—they were partners, honored in death and often deified in myth. The archaeology of horses in war reminds us that the past is not just about human ambition, but also about the animals who carried that ambition forward—sometimes to victory, sometimes to ruin.
Saratoga Stalls wrote, “The Memorial Day weekend is a time to honor our fallen soldiers, their mounts included. This holiday is a privilege granted to us by the sacrifices of both man and horse, a fact that, hopefully, many will remember.”
Go riding.
Amanda Uechi Ronan is an author, equestrian, and wannabe race car driver. Follow her on Instagram @au_ronan.
