Horses are valued by humans for the past million of years. Humans began to domesticate horses due to their ability to modulate with their environment. Horses' anatomy enables them to use of speed to escape predators. They have a well-developed sense of balance and a strong fight-or-flight instinct. Most domesticated horses begin training under saddle or in harness between the ages of two and four. The average life span of horses is approximately between 25 and 30 years. Horse breeds are based on general temperament. Spirited speed and endurance. Horses and humans intermingle in a wide variety of working activities such as police work, agriculture, entertainment, and therapy. Horses were historically used in warfare, from which a wide variety of riding. Many products are derived from horses, including meat, hide, and hair. Humans provide domesticated horses with food, water. and shelter. Horses are valued by humans in many ways and many forms of media such as Disney and the tale of Sprit, Hippotherapy, a form of rehabilitative therapy, and the tale of the Trojan horse. .
Disney has made films regarding horses such as Sprit. It is about a mustang stallion that grows up to proudly succeed his father as leader of the Cimarron herd in the Wild West. When they reach the Dakota Territory, Sprit gets curious and a cowboy catches him and sells him to the United States cavalry. The cavalry uses a method of training by breaking a horse. This method fails with sprit. Spirit is captured by a brave and escapes on his back. He also tricks him to a coral with his beloved mare, but shows respect and wins some trust. As the railroad arrives, the Indian village is wrecked and Spirit gets captured for use as a draft-horse. When the stallion...
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... and occasionally, horses are trained to perform without a bridle or other headgear. Many horses are also driven, which requires a harness, bridle, and some type of vehicle. Horse are valued by human in the past and will be in the future by all aspect horses are used to help human gain an increase in function in a variety of traditions and existing methods.
Works Cited
Association, A. H. (n.d.). Hippotherapy Researh and Supportive Evidance . Retrieved November 1, 2010, from American Hippotherapy Association .
Greek Myths in Order of Publication. (n.d.). Retrieved November 1 1, 2010, from Storynory LTD: http://storynory.com/category/greek-myths/
Kelly Asbury, L. C. (Director). (2002). Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (2002) [Motion Picture].
Viegas, J. (Director). (2010). Horses Never Forget Human Friends [Television Picture].
The use of horses for human consumption dates back to the earliest use of animals for human consumption. Horses are used for food in many counties but are also considered inhumane in other countries. In the United States specifically, horsemeat is not the norm for consumed meat. There seems to be a problem that has arisen. It is suspected that horses being slaughtered at horse slaughtering factories are not the most up to date, pain free for the horse, and human as people suspect them to be like beef kill floors. There are many pros and cons to horse slaughter that accompany the pressure groups on each side of horse slaughter. Another big controversy with horse slaughter is the argument of legalizing horse slaughter and what those details will entail in the law.
When riding a horse you don’t just sit there and do nothing, You work hard to control a 800-1000 pound animal. You have to push your horse and yourself to the greatest you can be. It is a lot of work, it is just like any other sport. You have to go ride your horse at least 4 times a week, you practice in the wind, rain, snow, when it’s hot out, and event when it is freezing cold.
There are a lot of misconceptions surrounding the sport of riding horses, including that the horse is doing all of the work. Contrary to popular belief this is false. The rider needs to guide and support all the horse does. The use of abdominal muscles keeps the rider balanced and stabilized. Coordination also plays a major part in horsemanship. To get the horse to do what you want like stop or speed up, a lot of different cues given synchronously to keep the horse from wondering off on its own. Hamstrings, glutes, and quads all work to support yourself upright in the saddle and used as cues to get the horse to turn and move forward. “Straddling a large powerful animal with a mind and agenda of its own is a full body workout that will engage your muscles
"Achilles." Gods, Heroes and Myth: Mythologies of Many lands. 10 June 2003. Internet. 23 June 2003.
Training a horse to ride is hard work, it involves ground work, riding, and in both patience is very important. In the next few paragraphs I will be explaining the steps needed to train a horse.
As the ancient civilizations of the west grew their empires, they encountered something so powerful, beastly, and strong that no man could hold down with his own two bare hands, nor could they be tamed. As centuries go on, men learned the ways of the horse and learned to ride upon their backs. They found them to be a key component in transportation, carrying goods, and warfare. As time went on, for every footprint of a human left behind in the wet mud, there was a hoof print not far from the footprint. Ancient Greeks believed that the horse was a gift from the gods, and they were greatly valued in their society.
"Gods and Men in Greek Religion." Gods and Men in Greek Religion. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr.
This destroyed the image set by Americans, a great strong champion reduced to a pile of steaks, or put into dog food. Where is freedom and liberty in that? But, though they excel at it, horses are not just made to run, some horses are used as guides for the blind. Horses contribute so much to society and all that potential is wasted in each horse sent to slaughter. Another cultural reference is the mustang, a strong free animal that roams the range. Mustangs were formerly protected from slaughter until recently in 2005 when a bill killed a 1971 law that prevented feral horses from being sold to slaughterhouses. Now any horse older than ten years old, or any young horse that has not been to three auctions and been sold is to be sent to slaughter. These horses have bloodlines of nearly pure Spanish stock and are an essential part of America’s living history. Congress needs to understand that the American’s perspective of a horse has shifted from being livestock to being a companion animal. For example, in a US survey by the Huffington Post, only thirteen percent of Americans sa...
Equine Therapy is known to help improve motor skills and psychological developments in children. Borgi illustrates, “having a goal oriented interaction with horses has an improvement in mental well-being, sense of self efficacy, and self esteem. Positively affecting individuals quality of life and global learning. Targeting sensory and motor difficulties, makes effects
The rider has to give the horse little aids that no one else is supposed to see. A horse needs their rider to help direct them to go where they are supposed to. The rider should know the pattern for the course they are going to do. The horse has no clue what they are doing unless the rider tells him what to do (Hicks). Riders use their body to give the aids to the horse. There are sometimes when the rider uses the reins to steer the horse (2014 Kissock 5). The riders have to make sure the horse stays calm and relaxed while in the arena. If the rider just sat there the horse would not know what to do and someone could get hurt (Calder 30). Horse and rider work hard to get to the shows they go to. The rider needs to work on staying balanced over a horse while they are moving without using the reins to hold on to (Calder 18). Riders have to practice for long hours in and out of the saddle. The horse has to respond to the lightest touches from the rider. The only way a horse will be like that is practice (MaMahan). The rider needs to stay quiet in the saddle and not move around like a chicken with its head cut off. They need to be centered and stay out of the way of the horse (Hicks). When people are watching equestrians at a professional level they think the equestrian is just sitting there while the horse does everything (MaMahan). They are wrong the horse and rider are a team that
...use our environment and surroundings. Horses however generally have the sense of hearing so elements I use vision and touch for they do not need to.
Another popular breed, for kids mostly, is the Ponies of America, or POA. These horses are generally small compared to the other breeds I have mentioned and they are well mannered which makes them good for children. My wife and daughter have three horses, a Paint, an Arabian, and a POA. I don't classify them in the typical manner described above; I classify them by their personalities. Their personalities are partly a result of their respective breeds, partly a result of their gender - all males -, partly a result of their age, and partly a result of the order in which they became ours.
The horse in Secretariat is very obedient to its trainer and jockey. Racehorses are trained to listen from a very young age. The people who handle the horse are very gentle and calm around the horse. The horse is very comfortable around them and trusts them as a dog trusts its owner. Behaviors like responding to movements of the bit in the mouth are taught to horses while different gaits like trot, canter and gallop are naturally learned by horses. The training methods in the movie can be applied to most racehorses as the goal is the same, to be
Some people think of them as animals. Some people think of them as objects. Some people think of them as friends. Then there are the few who think of them as family. Horses have always been like family to humans, except sometimes closer. There are many benefits to owning or being around horses. They come in many different colors. There is a multitude of breeds, also. Additionally, they have a long history with humans. Horses have unique behaviors. Showing horses has been the past-time or even career of many people. Furthermore, caring for horses can be a handful, but is definitely rewarding. Finally, riding horses is not just a hobby or a sport, but an action of your heart. Horses are wondrous creatures that have lived with man or thousands of years.
Horses are grazers and prey animals by nature, their “fight or flight” reaction is prominent. Their senses are developed to rapidly detect changes in their environment. Horses have a strong herd instincts, they will group together and follow the herd leader. Animals isolated will be anxious and can be very dangerous and may charge at people or injure itself trying to rejoin the herd. Mares will protect their young; avoid separating mare-foal pairs. Horses have widely spaced eyes, which causes them not to be able to see behind or right in front under their nose. The blind spot behind the animal should be avoided at all times.