People shape horses through their needs and demands but also through their awareness and understanding of themselves and their environment. This lecture analyzes how horses, as cultural heritage, can be approached using three examples–two breeding centers in the Czech Republic with very different fates, and the Cretan horse, bred in equestrian and hippologically modest conditions on a relatively isolated island. Today, this particular horse is practically on the verge of extinction and, the problem of revitalizing breeding is very complex. This talk addresses why traditional and historic breeds must be protected and developed. Presented by the CU Department of Anthropology, the CU Museum of Natural History and CU's Archaeozoology Lab.