• DID THE HORSE ACTUALLY BECOME EXTINCT OR MIGHT THERE HAVE BEEN SOME SURVIVORS FROM THE ICE AGE?
   
• DID NATIVE AMERICANS HAVE HORSES BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF THE SPANISH, AS THEIR ORAL HISTORIES CLAIM?
   
• WERE THE SPANISH THE FIRST TO RE-INTRODUCE THE HORSE TO THE AMERICAS OR DID THE HORSE RETURN EARLIER VIA NORSEMEN, CHINESE EXPLORERS, OR OTHERS?

Alternative histories, as well as documented facts of history that are not supportive of the majority culture's view tend to be marginalized, discredited, un-funded, unpublished, and generally suppressed - or simply ignored - sometimes for good reason, sometimes not.

Here are some interesting Alternative Horse Stories from the ranks of current Non-Winners (Please note that in most cases this author is simply presenting these for your consideration, and the theories do not necessarily reflect this author's own opinions):

Some Native American people, particularly the Dakotas, insist that they had horses prior to the arrival of Spanish horses. Indeed, it is incredible that the Plains peoples, in the space of just a hundred years or so, became such highly skilled horsemen, as well as skilled breeders who had developed their own unique breed (the Appaloosa) by the time of Lewis and Clark. This is possible, of course, but I have always found it remarkable and therefore a bit suspect.

The Book of Mormon contains references to horses in Mormon territory in antiquity. A summary of scientific and archeological research to support these claims can be read HERE (click). 

Here's another link about Mormon scientific inquiry into the origin if the horse.

An amateur historian from Great Britain, Gavin Menzies, wrote a book in which he tried to turn the story of the Europeans' discovery of America on its ear with a startling idea: Chinese sailors beat Christopher Columbus to the Americas by more than 70 years. Although the 1421 theory has been largely de-bunked, he presents some tantalizing archaeological evidence for the existence of horses in America before Columbus. He does so to defend his idea of Chinese presence in the Americas. Nevertheless, here's his evidence: Some pre-Columbian native art found at Cofins Cave in Brazil and at Trujillo, Peru depict horses, and in one case, a cavalry on horseback.

Another little-known part of history is the Norse/Viking presence in pre-Colombian America. There is some evidence that they might have brought their small horses with them (progenitors to Icelandic and Fjord horses of today), which Indians may have acquired far ahead of the Spanish arrival. The most compelling argument for this is Louis-Joseph LaVerendrie's 1642 account of meeting Indians with horses (see "Early Account of the Indian Horse" below)