History of equestrian development

Early Zhou or late Shang
Riding appeared earlier in China, according to archaeological data, as early as the early Zhou or the end of the Shang Dynasty. Along the Hexi corridor, there are a large number of rock paintings carved by primitive ancestors. In these rock paintings, there are a large number of hunting and fighting maps of ancient ancestors, including knights hunting with bows. According to the preliminary study of archaeologists, it is believed that these rock paintings were carved between 4,000 and 10,000 years ago and are the cultural remains of ancient ancestors. So the Zuo Zhuan says: "The north earth of the wings, the horse was born, there is no prosperity of the country."
Shang and Zhou Dynasties
The training of horses and charioteering in the ancient Central Plains also appeared in the Shang and Zhou dynasties. At that time, one of the six arts was "Yu" (chariot-driving technology). Horse-drawn chariots were also used during this period. According to the "Shujing · Animal Oath" records, when King Wu attacked Zhou, "three hundred chariots and three thousand tigers." The chariot is a chariot. Because the horse "resided in agriculture and hid the military in the state", the Zhou Dynasty first called the official who controlled the military administration and military fu "Sima" to highlight the importance of the horse. In 305 B.C., in order to fight the Xiongnu in the north and the Qin in the west, King Wuling of Zhao decided to consolidate his army and learn how to wear a short suit and ride a gun from the Hu people, overcoming the short style of the Central Plains people, who were only good at chariot fighting. The realization of King Wuling of Zhao's "Hu wearing horse shooting" changed the operational concept of horse-pulled chariots in the Shang and Zhou Dynasties. The single rider is flexible, fast, and can attack the other side unexpectedly when fighting. The emergence of cavalry is an armed revolution, but also put forward higher requirements for horseback riding technology, with the promotion of cavalry in various countries, riding has become an important part of the assessment of soldiers' skills.