Hi, my name is Vera Klontza.

I am an archaeologist, and I am interested in the history of the relationship between horse and man, horses and humans.

This is the most exciting relationship between large mammals. Man is the predator, the horse the hunted animal. Yet together, we have been making history for at least 4,000 years. The horse was the most significant energy supplier (next to solar energy and human labor) until the invention of the internal combustion engine and electricity.

How did we get together with the horse? How did we convince him to work with us? How is it that today, when we do not need horses for work, war, or transportation, we long to have these beautiful animals near us?

Is it possible to know from archaeological finds how man treated horses? When did he first harness a horse, and when did he mount it?

These are the questions I deal with, but not only. I am also a breeder, professional trimmer, rider and, most importantly, a ‘horse girl’. My experiences, never-ending intensive education, and insights as a horse enthusiast, hippologist, and zooarchaeologist shape my understanding of this unique relationship.