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From cave paintings it is believed that the
equid from which modern
horses are derived resemble the modern Przewalski Horse. The large
strong heads and erect manes depicted in these paintings bear a
striking resemblance to this modern breed.
The first domestication of the horses was probably in
the steppes of
central Asia between 3000 and 4000 B.C. These first animals were kept
for
meat and milk. As early man became more mobile undoubtedly horses began
to be used as pack animals.
Oxen were being
used in the Middle East at approximately 4000 B.C. for plowing.
Progressively
they were used on sleds, which were eventually mounted on rollers, with
the final evolution of wheels. Early in the 3rd millennium B.C. there
is
archeological evidence that vehicles drawn by equid, generally onagers
or ass hybrids, were being used in warfare. As horses from the north
became
more numerous the carts moved to the familiar two-wheeled chariot with
spoked wheels. Due to his greater speed the horse rapidly replaced
other
equid as harness animals.
In the second millennium BC the number of domesticated horses in Europe
was flourishing. By 1500 BC specialization was evident, stocky horses
were to be found in the cold north and slender ones in the south.
Selective breeding produced giant breeds to work the farmer’s fields,
and Arab steeds from the southern horses which became today’s
thoroughbred racehorses.
As western man explored and colonized the globe the horse went with
him.
As human populations soared, so did the number of domesticated
horses. Society was dependent on the horse for farming, transport,
warfare, and sport. The industrial revolution saw the beginning of the
decline of horse
power. Trains and cars took over the horse’s role as transport. Today,
the modern horsebreeds are used for racing and leisure riding,
military ceremony and police duties. The horse is still a slave but its
life is far easier. The horse is a remarkable species full of
expression, body language
and social behaviour. Even some expert horse riders fail to understand
the full nature of the horse.
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Famous Quotations about Horses
A bad day riding is better than a good day fishing.
A Dog looks up to a man, a cat looks down on a man, but a patient horse
looks a man in the eye and sees him as an equal.
A dog may be man's best friend, but the horse wrote history.
A fly, sir, may sting a stately horse, and make him wince; but one is
but an insect, and the other a horse still.
- Samuel Johnson
A good rider can hear his horse speak to him, a great rider can hear
his horse whisper, but a bad rider won't hear his horse even if it
screams at him.
A horse doesn't care how much you know until he knows how much you care.
- Pat Parelli
A horse is an angel without wings.
A horse is like a best friend. They`re always there to nuzzle you and
make your life a better place.
A horse is like a violin. First it must be tuned, and when tuned,
it must be accurately played.
A polo pony is like a motorbike with a mind of its own, weighing half a
ton.
A racehorse is an animal that can take several thousand people for a
ride at the same time.
Arabians: A little bit of everything perfect.
- Amanda Ferber
Bread may feed my body, but my horse feeds my soul.
Care, and not fine stables, makes a good horse.
- Danish Proverb
Closeness, friendship, affection - keeping your own horse means all
these things.
- Bertrand Leclair
Feeling down? Saddle up, It is the only cure.
Give a horse what he needs and he will give you his heart in return.
Give me food and drink; and care for me. And when the day's work is
done, shelter me. Give me a clean bed and leave me not too small a
place in the stable. Talk to me, for your voice often takes the place
of reins. Be good to me and I shall serve you more gladly and
love
you.
He knows when you are happy. He knows when you are proud. He also
knows when you have a carrot.
Horse sense is the thing a horse has, which keeps it from betting
on people.
- W. C. Fields
Horse... if God made anything more beautiful, he kept it for
himself.
Horseback riding is life, the rest is just details.
Horses are the dolphins of the plains, the spirits of the wind; yet we
sit astride them for the sake of being well-groomed, whereas they could
have all the desire in the world to bolt, but instead, they adjust
their speed and grace, only to please us, never to displease.
- Lauren Salerno
Horses can't talk, but they can speak if you listen.
Horses give us the wings we lack.
How do you catch a loose horse? Make a noise like a carrot.
- British Cavalry joke
How to ride a horse:
Step One - Mount the horse.
Step Two - Stay mounted.
I have often been asked why do I like horses so much. Look into one's
eyes. There you will see generations of horses who have served the
humans for thousands of years faithfully for nothing in return. Beaten
horses, starved hoses, horses who no longer possess a spirit. They
deserve to be loved and respected as much as humanly possible. Let them
run free again. Let them no longer be a faithful beasts, but embrace
them as you would a dear friend, for that is what they are.
I have seen things so beautiful, that they have brought tears to
my
eyes. Yet, none of them can match the gracefulness and beauty of a
horse running free.
I live in a house, but my home is in the stable.
If God had intended man to walk, he would have given him four legs.
Instead, he gave him two - one to put on either side of a horse.
- Montana Rancher
If I had a dime for every time that I thought of a horse's
beauty, I'd have enough to buy one.
If the horse does not enjoy his work, his rider will have no joy.
- H.H. Isenbart
If you want a stable friendship, get a horse.
It excites me that no matter how much machinery replaces the horse, the
work it can do is still measured in horsepower.....even in this space
age. And although a riding horse often weighs half a ton, and a
big
drafter a full ton, either can be led about by a piece of string if he
has been wisely trained. This to me is a constant source of wonder, and
challenge.
- Marguret Henry
Life is short. Hug your horse.
Love means attention, which means looking after the things we love. We
call this stable management.
- George H. Morris
My husband says, if I spend one more weekend at a horse-show, he'll
leave me. Darn - I'll miss him!
My new horse was sold to me as a real gentleman to ride. He is. When we
have to go over a fence, he insists on "ladies first".
Nothing is more sacred as the bond between a horse and a
rider. No
other creature can ever become so emotionally close to a human as a
horse. When a horse dies, the memory lives on, because an enormous part
of his owner's heart, soul, and the very existence dies also.
- Stephanie M Thorn
Nothing moves me more - when on the way to fetching in my mare in the
morning - than the sound of her neighing to me as I open the gate.
Our perfect companions never have fewer than four feet.
People on horses look better than they are. People in cars look worse
than they are.
- Marya Mannes
Riding isn't the matter of life or death. It's more important than that.
Some of my best leading men have been dogs and horses.
- Elizabeth Taylor
The history of mankind is carried on the back of the horse.
The Joy of horses is not the riding, jumping, racing, showing, or
grooming, but of owning.
The more I meet men, the better my horse looks.
The world is best viewed through the ears of a horse.
There comes a point in every rider's life when he wonders if it's all
worth it. Then one look at the horse, and he realizes - it is.
- Kelly Stewart
There is nothing like a rattling ride for curing melancholy!
- Pared
Throw your heart over a fence and your horse will follow.
To ride or not to ride - this is a stupid question.
- Brandy Michelle
To understand the soul of a horse is the closest we humans can come to
knowing perfection.
When God wanted to create the horse, he said to the South Wind, "I want
to make a creature of you. Condense." And the Wind condensed.
- Emir Abd-el-Kader
When riding a horse, we leave our fear, troubles, and sadness behind on
the ground.
- Juli Carlson
When riding my horse, I no longer have my heart in my chest, but
between my knees.
When you are on a great horse, you have the best seat you will ever
have.
- Sir Winston Churchill
When your horse follows you without being asked, when he rubs his head
on yours, and when you look at him and feel a tingle down your spine
you, know you are loved. Do you love him back?
Who among us has not as a child asked Santa Clause to bring us a pony
on Christmas day?
Whoever said money can't buy happiness didn't know where to buy a
horse.
You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink," is an old
saying that is not exactly true, because anybody that's ever been
around horses would know if the horse didn't want to go to water then
it wouldn't.
You cannot train a horse with shouts and expect it to obey a whisper.
- Dagobert D. Runes
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