From the moment humans mounted these magnificent animals, we shaped our world with horsepower. Join anthropologist Niobe Thompson on a global journey to explore the evolution of horsepower and witness our enduring love of horses today.
While the earliest works of art of mankind depicted horses, the early history of the two species remains largely unknown. From the last nomadic peoples of the Altai Mountains to the Bedouins of the Arabian Peninsula and the Blackfoot Indians, Canadian anthropologist and filmmaker Niobe Thompson traveled the world for two years. He went to meet these communities who live in osmosis with their horses, and tried to understand the history and the nature of the very special bond between man and animal. At the same time, the work of German evolutionary biologist Martin Fischer allows, thanks to a 3D animation, to bring back to life the ancestor of the horse, whose appearance is surprisingly reminiscent of a small fox.
It's no surprise that when the world's brainiest biped climbed atop the world's greatest land-runner, that union rapidly changed the planet. Ever since the mysterious origins of our extraordinary partnership, horses have shaped the human world. At the speed of a horse, our ancestors conquered distance, toppled empires and knit the pieces back together to create the modern world.
What is it that makes humans and horses so perfect for each other? Why are these huge animals so eager to please? And how have we transformed the wild horse we tamed 6000 years ago into over 400 specialized breeds today?
In 2015, anthropologist Niobe Thompson brought the story of our origins to screens around the world with the internationally acclaimed three-part series The Great Human Odyssey. Now, he takes us to a new era in the human journey: the moment tamed the horse, and harnessed horsepower.
Join Niobe on an adventure of discovery around the world, and back in time to the first riders. Meet the world's only wild horses, who rely on seals to survive. Join horse nomads in Mongolia on a grueling mid-winter migration. Encounter extraordinary horse breeds in the hottest and coldest places on Earth. Discover why horses have 360-degree vision, and gallop on a single toe. And travel 45 million years back in time, to witness for the first time a perfect 3D reconstruction of the ancestor of horses.
Filmed over 18 months across 3 continents in 4K resolution, featuring drone and helicopter-mounted RED aerials, extensive Phantom slow-motion footage, and a live- recorded symphonic score.
