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Chapter SummaryWhere in this wide world can one find nobility without pride, friendship without envy, or beauty without vanity? Here, where grace is laced with muscle, and strength by gentleness confined. He serves without servility; he has fought without enmity. There is nothing so powerful, nothing less violent, there is nothing so quick, nothing more patient. England's past has been borne on his back. All our history is his industry. We are his heirs, he is our inheritance. The HORSE.
Sir Ronald Duncan (1914–1982)
Because horses were first domesticated approximately 5000 years ago they have been of great value and service to humanity. Horses probably were first used to carry soldiers into battle, but they soon found a role in transportation and farming (especially for draft purposes). The introduction of horses into America had a significant effect on the lives of Native Americans. They rode horses to capture and kill buffalo for food and made clothing and other items from horsehair and horsehide.
Tractors, trucks, and other power-driven vehicles have almost replaced horses for draft purposes in the United States, and for a period of time the future of horses appeared bleak. However, the number of horses increased decidedly in the last half of the twentieth century. This resulted from an increased demand for horses for pleasure, recreation, and sporting events.
Machines will never replace horses for many purposes. The beauty of horses and the wide variety of sizes, colors, and gaits make them popular for riding, driving, and showing. The horse project is one of this nation's largest 4-H youth projects. Horse racing is the world's most popular sport (Chapter 1). In some areas range cows are still worked with horses, and this will probably always be true.
The breeding, feeding, managing, training, and showing of horses require patience and skill, but in this day of missiles, rockets and spaceships the horse offers a pleasurable and desirable means of recreation and relaxation to those seeking a change of pace.
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2003 McGraw-Hill Higher Education