Horses and America

Horses were brought to America by Spaniards in the early 1500's. Breeds included the Paso Fino, Peruvian Paso, and Spanish Mustangs.

Horses benefited America in many ways. They can be used for easier and faster transportation, and were extremely useful for moving in combat. This also allowed Native Americans to hunt for larger and faster animals, such as buffalo which brought an abundance of food and resources for their tribes. Horses were also used for entertainment such as pleasure riding and horse racing.

Horses can live for up to 30 years and in cold and hot climates. They eat grasses and a variety of vegetables. They are best in flat and soft terrain, but some horses adapt well to very rocky conditions.

Horses gave us an advantage in battle. They were also helpful for plowing fields, and transporting people/goods. Their meat could also be use for trading and as a food source.

Without horses, farming would be extremely difficult. Herding cattle would be nearly impossible, therefore meat prices would increase. For some countries, they would loose a food source. Horse eventing businesses/breeders would also collapse.

Many people have used selective breeding in horses to make them have greater endurance, stamina, strength, and attractive traits. This has helped us make horses better for farming, herding, and in other countries, meat products.

America has a variety of environments for a variety of horses, especially in the plains areas. There is a good source of food such as grasses. (unlike Middle Eastern countries where there is a lot of sandy terrain)

Around age 4, horses are ready to be ridden. Before that, horses need to be trained and taught their manners. Horses can live up to 30 years on average, giving their owners almost a lifetime of companionship, transportation, and help with warfare and farming. America's geography provides plenty of food sources and good land for our horses to work and live off.

Horses could help us travel to new areas to colonize and farm. They helped America's farming and agriculture industries, letting us expand and grow as a world power.

About 4.6 million Americans work in the horse industry. The US horse industry is estimated to have an economic effect of $39 billion, annually.

Citations

• Canadian Geographic
• The Horse Channel
• American Mustang Assn.
• About.Com
• National Geographic