Equus, Equine, Equanimity...How noble is a
Horse... toils, bears, pulls, and races
For us... moves the wind
(A wee bit of techical difficulty here - picture supposed to supplant these words - will work on it)
The domestication, in part, of the horse, is thought to have begun around 4000 BC and become widespread by 3000 BC (love how everything happens in years that end in '0's'). "After 2,000 BC there is a sharp increase in the number of horse bones found in human settlements across Northwestern Europe, indicating the spread of the domesticated horses throughout the continent." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse
How that must have changed everything! Transportation, work, warfare, companionship and the many varied activities this beautiful being has done, often against its original nature, to suit the needs of humans.
They started out as very small creatures, but changed quite a bit over massive amounts of time. For racing, they've been helped along in the specific trait breeding department. The qualities that make them faster than work horses also change their temperament and shape a bit. Other breeds for other duties... Unnatural selection.
I
wonder whether the wild calls louder for the horse than it does for us. Seven
thousand years is a long time, and there is only one type of truly wild
horse left in the world. But I can see the call of the wild in humans as well.... still.
My uncle worked with horses his whole life. He loved them, and he helped people to care for them, waking at any hour to run out of the house and do what needed to be done, even if it got him occasionally hit hard by a large horse's head in its pain and confusion. He was a racetrack vet, and from what I hear, one of the very best.
A unique individual; whenever I think of a horse, I think back to how much I miss his laughter and delightful times.Thoughts and good wishes, food for the journey. I love you always. And your little horse too.
Article: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2009/05/02/2009-05-02_501_long_...