3.1.1 The beginning
The history of humans and horses is closely intertwined. It dates back to well before Christ, when horses were not yet domesticated. Before their domestication, horses were hunted for hide for clothing, and for meat for food source. Possibly, equines were initially domesticated for providing meat and milk (Domecq y Díez, 1975, pp. 376-380).
Due to the changing needs of humans, the domestication of horses also occurred with the purpose to gain collaboration needed for improving life circumstances (Altamirano, 2006, pp.
22-27). In captivity, some techniques were developed for exploiting the energy of horses, first as pack-horse and for draught work in transportation. Horseback-riding extended after the first millennium before Christ for exploring and courier service purposes (Agüera Carmona, 2008, p. 20.).
3.1.2 In warfare
Besides their use as a power source in peacetime (like hunting, transportation, trade and communication), horses were used in warfare by pulling chariots already in the 1800s BC contributing to the creation and prosperity of certain societies. The Battle of Adrianople in 378 AC introduced heavy cavalry, while light cavalry began to be used with the invention of firearms in the end of the 14th century (Mihók-Pataki-Kalm-Ernst, 2001, p. 12.). Light cavalry changed the role of horses in warfare. Equitation revived and horsemanship became a highly polished technical art that was indeed based on the theories of classical riding as presented by Xenophon, cavalry commander in the fourth century before Christ.
In order to furnish the court and the cavalry, and to educate and prepare both horses and cavalrymen for required tasks, studs and riding academies were built (Loch, 1986, pp. 77-96;
Brem, 2011, p. 117). The first riding academy was a Spanish School funded by Frederico Grisone in Naples in 1532 thanks to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (as Charles I, ruler of the Spanish Empire). Charles V contributed to the development of the Spanish style in classical equitation and to the fame of the Spanish horse throughout Europe (Domecq y Díez, 1975, pp.
376-380; Gala, 1975, pp. 389-392; Loch, 1986, pp. 77-96; Mihók-Pataki-Kalm-Ernst, 2001, p.
13; Brem, 2011, p. 3, 9-17, 117). The riding academies in Vienna (1572), Paris (1592), Saumur
11 (1688), Versailles (1735), Saint Petersburg (1807), Wiener Neustadt (1808), Berlin (1817), Pinerolo (1823), Hanover (1867), Budapest (1872) and Tor di Quinto (1897) were set up later (Hecker-Győrffy-Villám-Szelestey-Jankovics, 2004, pp. 127-131; Brem, 2011; p. 117;
Graphic, 1897).
In the beginning of the 16th century, the Royal Courts, especially the French Royal Court, employed riding master tutors. This employment had a high rank and was normally performed by highly educated nobles. For instance, the riding master tutor of Louis XIII of France was his sub-governor, Antoine de Pluvinel, who among other significant riding masters, contributed to the development of the philosophy of lightness in equitation. Francois Robichon de la Guériniére credited with the invention of the shoulder-in was the Equerry to Louis XIV of France. His theories on equitation played a primary role in the education of horses and riders at the French Military Riding Academy at Saumur and the Spanish Riding School in Vienna (Mihók-Pataki-Kalm-Ernst, 2001, p. 13; Karl, 2009, p. 151). In the Renaissance, equitation improved, as well; great renovations occurred in the education techniques. Horses were used in light cavalry (and so in warfare) in the Second World War for the last time.
3.1.3 Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution, which began in the second half of the 18th century in Great Britain, meant an incredible increase of the production capacity but, because of the lack of an adequately developed road network and the few numbers of motor vehicles, the transport of both persons (in stagecoach, omnibus or barouches for rent) and goods (raw materials, coal, iron ore, salt, food) was based on animal drawn vehicles and on the pioneers of rail transport.
In agriculture, horses were continuously used in the 18th century, but only at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century superseded the oxen, when the first modern draught horse breeds were created. The Industrial Revolution introduced important changes: the population began to exhibit unprecedented sustained growth that strained, first of all, food resources. To obtain higher average annual production yields than earlier, larger and stronger agricultural machines (like, plough, seed drill, mower and harvester) were needed requiring a high number of horses for their traction (in some cases, even 30 horses). Until 1950, horse-drawn agricultural machines could be found in many countries of Europe, although the steam engine offered obvious advantages for modern agricultural production versus animal traction based agricultural work. In addition to agricultural works that related to crop production, horses were
12 also used for timber harvesting, and, if environmental conditions justify, they are still used today for this work (e.g. in Sweden).
3.1.4 Equestrian Revolution
After mechanization, an historical period came to an end in the relationship between horses and humans, but a new age has begun approximately since the sixties of the last century in the most developed countries of the world. This new age can be characterized by the expression of Equestrian Revolution. The term itself does not only refer to a change in the horse’s role in human life but, especially, it refers to a shift, in order of magnitude, from its roles in satisfying different material needs (physiological, physical and safety) to its roles in satisfying immaterial needs independently from the hierarchy of these needs. The Equestrian Revolution is a process, which, in the function of a specific date, is not universal. Although the “new balance” is more or less established in the most developed countries, the variety of horse-related activities being incorporated is expanding continuously. In countries other than the most developed ones, the Equestrian Revolution has begun or on its way.
The Equestrian Revolution is fed from the above described traditional equestrian values. From equestrian perspectives, this is the reason why the Equestrian Revolution has not occurred in the same way in each of the countries. The development of “new” activities, which permits people to achieve the desired degree of wellness, was encouraged by a multitude of parameters that must be associated with horse-related traditional values of each of the countries.
In Spain, for instance, where equestrian tradition is linked to countryside work with and around bulls, many activities, which enjoy exceptional popularity (like la doma vaquera, el acoso y derribo, las romerías, las ferias, etc.), are related to this tradition. Also in the United States, the tradition of cowboys developed new activities, like Reining and Western Dressage. On the other hand, for instance in Germany, the most popular equestrian activities are the equestrian disciplines, mainly the Olympic ones that are associated with traditional equestrian values of light cavalry.
Apart from specific traditional values, the influences of “modern societies” in racing, sport and cultural activities have also been incorporated in the horse industries, in addition to the development of “new services”, like equine therapy and coaching. Nevertheless, no matter which values encourage horse-related activities in the Equestrian Revolution, the only
13 important factor is that the great multitude of demand for and supply of horses and horse-related activities have created “new” horse industries.