What was used to pull sleigh before reindeer?

Before reindeer were domesticated for pulling sleighs, people used a variety of animals depending on their location and the type of terrain:

* Dogs: Especially in colder regions like the Arctic, sled dogs were the primary mode of transportation.

* Horses: Used in some colder areas, but not as common as dogs due to their larger size and potential for overheating.

* Oxen: Used in some parts of Europe for pulling heavy loads, but not as agile as dogs or horses for sledding.

* Humans: In some cultures, humans themselves would pull sleds, especially in situations where other animals were not available.

It's important to remember that the use of reindeer for pulling sleds is relatively recent, becoming widespread only in the last few centuries. Before that, other animals and even human power were used for this purpose.