The Influence of Horses on Our Society IMS #8890-A

Objectives Explain the early history of the horse Describe the origin of the horse and its arrival into the United States

Objectives Discuss the growth and decline of horses in the United States Explain the current status of the horse industry Discuss the future of the horse industry

Overview Humans - relationships with horses for thousands of years Originally used as food source Eventually used for military, agriculture, commerce, recreation, & sport

Overview United States - extremely influential in development of country During the settlement of the West, horses pulled families in wagons People used horses for transportation, handling livestock, & carrying mail

Overview Utilization of horses as power source declined after onset of mechanization People still employ them as source of power Draft horses or mules appropriate for small farms & selective cutting of forests

Overview More economical Do less harm to the environment than tractors & other mechanical equipment Mule - cross between a female horse (mare) and a male donkey (jack)

Early History of the Horse Ancestors first appeared in North America 55 million years ago Spread to Asia & Europe First horse was Hyracotherium More commonly known as eohippus “Dawn horse”

Early History of the Horse Size of large dog & had four toes on front feet & three toes on rear feet Legs were thin, neck short, & teeth could chew tender leaves

Early History of the Horse Modern humans first appeared in Africa approximately 130,000 years ago Horses had evolved to current form of genus Equus Evolved - having moved through process of a continuous change from simpler state to higher, more complex state

Early History of the Horse Humans first domesticated horses in Asia 5,000 years ago Domesticated - tamed or gentled for any use by man Historians believe Chinese were first to use horses productively Rather than keeping herds for food

Early History of the Horse Humans began to successfully exploit horses for war Led to first serious scholarship of equitation Greek horseman, general, & scholar, Xenephon wrote book about training & riding horses Advice written is as good today as it was when written in fourth century B.C.

Horses in the United States 8,000 years ago - horses disappeared from North America Reason unknown Some think they died out because of some sort of contagious disease or parasite

Horses in the United States Others believe combination of climatic change, competition from other species, & failure to adapt may have contributed to the mysterious disappearance of the species from the continent

Horses in the United States 1493 - Columbus brought horses back to New World second voyage West Indies in the Caribbean Ocean Conquistadors conveyed them to mainland of South America & Mexico

Horses in the United States Cortez conquered Mexico in 1519, with aid of Spanish horses First horses to enter U.S. came with de Soto Explored terrain extending from Florida Everglades to Missouri Ozark Mountains

Horses in the United States In 1540, Coronado guided expedition of soldiers from Mexico into Great Plains Some horses in North America originated from Spanish missions

Horses in the United States Catholic missions stretched from eastern coast of Mexico to Pacific coast Missionaries brought other farm animals such as: Cows Sheep Goats

Horses in the United States Possible these were foundation stock of first horses of American Indians & wild horses that exist in the American West Foundation stock - original animals of a breed Also possible they originated from stray & abandoned horses of de Soto & Coronado

Horses in the United States Horses changed lives of Indians Could track & hunt buffalo over greater territory European colonists transported powerful workhorses to New England Pulling plows Riding Pulled stagecoaches in teams

Horses in the United States Colonists established plantations in southeastern United States in 1700s Plantation owners bred horses with smooth, comfortable gaits in order to survey large properties

Horses in the United States Horse racing arose as pastime 1730 - plantation owners started importing English racehorses 1750-1850 - large, heavy horses lugged Conestoga wagons between Pittsburgh & Philadelphia Major type of freight transportation

Horses in the United States During latter part of nineteenth century, freight trains replaced wagons As West became settled & cattle ranches established, horses used to: Herd Move Work cattle

Horses in the United States Tradition continues today Huge cattle drives of late nineteenth & early twentieth centuries now nonexistent Nonexistent due to advent of fencing & extensive transportation networks

Horses in the United States Pony Express began in 1861 as mail service Only operated for 18 months before telegraph communication caused it to be outmoded

Horses in the United States Riders would gallop horse hard for 10-15 miles before passing mail pouch to another rider on a different mount Mount - means of conveyance, such as a horse, on which to ride.

Growth and Decline of the Horse Golden age from 1890s until agriculture became mechanized Everyone loved horses during this era Every town had livery stable, watering trough, & hitching posts

Growth and Decline of the Horse Livery stable - boarding stable for horses or other animals Hitching posts - rails to which horses are tied

Growth and Decline of the Horse Several industries associated with horses were fundamental parts of national economy Kids revered village blacksmith Blacksmith - person who trims & puts shoes on horse’s hooves

Growth and Decline of the Horse Breed called bobtailed hackney owned the streets Bobtailed hackney - large horse used to pull carriages Around 1900, only wealthy owned cars Only 8,000 cars Most people disliked cars & complained about noise

Growth and Decline of the Horse 1908 - everything changed when Henry Ford invented assembly line Produced car that sold for only $825 Trucks, tractors, & better roads followed Days of working horse numbered

Growth and Decline of the Horse As automobile, truck, & tractor numbers increased, number of horses declined Highest number: 1915 – 21,431,000 horses Lowest number 1960 - 3,089,000 horses

Growth and Decline of the Horse Manufacturing & commerce greatly affected rise & fall of horses During early growth phase of industry, numbers increased in order to transport: Raw materials Manufactured commodities Agricultural products

Growth and Decline of the Horse Eventually, trucks, tractors, & automobiles replaced them Resurgence of use of draft horses for: Logging Carriage horses Small-scale & organic farming

Growth and Decline of the Horse Horse numbers have increased in areas of recreation and sport Currently there are 6,931,000 horses in the United States

Growth and Decline of the Horse Number of Horses & Participants By Activity Activity # of Horses & Participants by Activity # of Participants Racing 725,000 941,400 Showing 1,974,000 3,607,900 Recreation 2,970,000 4,346,100 Other 1,262,000 1,607,900 TOTAL 6,931,000 7,062,500

Growth and Decline of the Horse Largest number of horses: Texas California Kentucky Breeds with the highest number: Quarter Horse Thoroughbred Standardbred

Current Status of the Horse Industry in the United States Horse industry expanding Produces direct goods & services totaling $25.3 billion Impact of $112.1 billion on gross domestic product (GDP)

Current Status of the Horse Industry in the United States Racing, showing, & recreation contribute more than 25% of entire value of goods & services created by the industry Attendance at racetracks declined in recent years due to off-track betting & other types of gambling Attempting to draw crowds by combining racetracks & casinos

Current Status of the Horse Industry in the United States Many children and young adults participate in horse activities 4-H horse projects lead the way in the 4-H plant & animal project category

Current Status of the Horse Industry in the United States Forest Service employs horses as pack animals Can travel into remote areas that no vehicle can access Commonly seen in movies & parades Police use them to control crowds

Current Status of the Horse Industry in the United States Therapists put people with physical or mental challenges on horses to improve their: Balance Coordination Thought processes

Future of the Horse Industry People often choose to spend leisure time on a horse or just around them Human interest in physical fitness & mental well-being also attract people to horses

Future of the Horse Industry Riding horses is a challenging physical activity Number of horses will hold steady or increase Periodic economic downturns tend to discourage breeders

Future of the Horse Industry Horse owners will continue to have problems with access to property & trails Urban & suburban expansion Development of rural “suburbs”

Summary Humans have had relationships with horses for thousands of years In the United States, horses were extremely influential in development of the country

Summary Ancestors first appeared in North America about 55 million years ago Spread to Europe & Asia where Historians believe Chinese were first to truly use horses productively

Summary 1493 - Columbus brought horses back to New World on his second voyage. Horses changed lives of the Indians as they could track & hunt buffalo over a greater territory

Summary Horses had golden age in United States from the 1890s until agriculture became mechanized As automobile, truck, & tractor numbers increased, number of horses declined

Summary Manufacturing & commerce greatly affected rise & fall of horses Horse industry is expanding Contributes significant amount to country’s GDP

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