Horse Use Through the Ages

1
Horse Use Through the Ages

• Equine Science

2
One Small Step for Man

• Horses powered the world for over 6,000 years
• The mobility of horsed riders was the lynchpin in
  the creation and destruction of kingdoms and
  empires
• There are still many places where the horse is
  essential to the rural economy, and where the
  horse makes a hard life easier

3
Horses on Farms

• Horses were indispensable on farms until the
  advent of the tractor
• Millions of acres of cropland were cultivated and
  harvested by huge equipment drawn by horse teams
• Horses were used to clear farmland, pulling out
  huge tree stumps and moving felled trees

4
Necessity is the Mother of Invention

• Small family farms began to fade, and as farms
  grew larger and fewer in number machine power was
  necessary to work them
• As machine-powered tractors and combines became
  more available and affordable, horses became
  obsolete on the farm
• This caused the rapid decline of draft horses in
  America

5
The Pony Express

• Formed by William H Russell in 1860
• Before the coming of the telegraph
• Moved mail between St. Joseph, Missouri and
  Sacramento, California
• Much of the route was through hostile Indian
  territory
• The distance of 1,966 miles was covered by 400
  ponies in 10 days

6
Mail Call!

• In Britain, mounted riders carried mail until the
  late 1700s
• The Persians had a very efficient postal system
  which could complete a journey of 1,500 miles in
  7-14 days
• Genghis Khan operated the Yam, a postal service
  in which relays of messengers galloped about 150
  miles per day across the Mongol Empire

7
Distance Riding

• In America, preachers would travel from place to
  place visiting congregants and gathering new
  converts on horseback
• Harnesses were popular in China, where
  sophisticated wheeled vehicles were being used by
  1300 BC
• Horses originally powered the railways and canal
  networks, also

8
Driving

• Chariot racing was the national sport of Ancient
  Greece for 1,500 years
• The first Olympic chariot races took place in 408
  BC at the 25th Olympiad
• Chariot racing was popular in the Roman circus,
  where each of four colored groups were supported
  by a political faction
• Todays Amish still use horse-drawn buggies

9
Western Riding

• Influenced by the Spanish conquistadores, from
  whose horses descended modern-day Mustangs
• Mustangs are small but tough
• Breaking the horses was rough, but they had
  skills beyond the comprehension and ability of
  most European horsemen

10
Western Riding

• Geldings were preferred to mares because of their
  reliability
• The cutting horse and roping horse were prized
  above all others
• The horse moved almost instinctively, with only
  the slightest of signals from the rider
• The horses were schooled to unbelievably high
  standards

11
Rodeos

• The modern-day location of the Old West cowboys
• Competitive events are based on skills once
  commonplace on the range
• Calf and steer roping, cutting, wagon-racing,
  bronco-busting, and barrel racing are examples of
  rodeo events

12
Rodeo

• Rodeos evolved from informal contests between
  cowboys
• The first to charge admission was held at
  Prescott, Arizona, in 1888
• Most rodeo riders today are professionals, riding
  the circuit from one place to another
• Western dress is still the garb of choice

13
Classical Equitation

• Medieval knights required horses that could be
  ridden with one hand while a sword was wielded
  with the other
• The movements designed to discourage foot
  soldiers from coming close formed the basis for
  modern airs, or schools above the ground

14
The Airs

• There were seven in classical equitation of the
  17th century
• Today there are three essentials
• In levade the foreleg is elevated on deeply bent
  hind legs, with the hocks lowered to just above
  the ground
• This is the base for courbette when the horse
  bounds forward on the hind legs with the foreleg
  still bent

15
The Airs

• The levade also leads to the capriole, when the
  horse leaps from all four legs simultaneously,
  striking out with the hind legs in mid-air
• These movements are taught at the Spanish Riding
  School of Vienna, Austria, and the Cadre Noir at
  Saumur, France

16
Spanish Riding School

• Founded in 1572 to educate the nobles in
  equestrian arts
• The present home was designed between 1729 and
  1735
• Used only horses from Spain
• White stallions bred there originated in 1580
  from a stallion from Lipizza

17
Cadre Noir

• In a state of continual development, unlike the
  Spanish School
• The innovative collective talent of the horsemen
  there has never been exceeded
• Combined the classic base with competitive sport
• Largely Thoroughbred or Anglo-Arab horses

18
Questions for Review

• What were horses used for on farms?
• Describe the Pony Express
• Who had a mounted postal service, besides the
  U.S.?
• Discuss chariot racing
• List a few rodeo events
• Describe the 3 airs of classical equitation
• What is the difference between the two schools of
  classical equitation?