A neighbor is grazing two of his horses on our Colorado farm and I was glad to see them when I arrived. Our arrangement is mutually beneficial; he gets free food for the horses and we get both natural pasture control and the serenity that their presence provides. There are dog people and there are cat people but almost everyone likes horses.
Though the horse evolved in North America, spreading into Eurasia via the Bering Land Bridge, the last of the New World natives were dying off when humans first arrived, some 15-20,000 years ago. Horses were domesticated in Asia at least 6,000 years ago and, needless to say, have played a major role in the course of human civilization; early travel, cultivation, ranching and warfare all relied on the speed and strength of these marvelous creatures. Spanish explorers reintroduced the horse to the Americas and, centuries later, we continue to reap the rewards of their gift.
Though modern technology has eliminated much of their previous utility, we still love and admire the horse. Wild horses, increasingly rare and threatened, are the classic symbols of freedom, race horses are admired for their speed and "heart" and the domestic horse is loved for his beauty, his hardiness and, in most cases, his tranquil manner. Try looking into those large, doleful eyes without reaching out to rub his head!
