If any sight creates instinctive excitement it is surely the horse. Children are naturally attracted to horses; people speak of ‘natural’ horsemen. Horses have been with mankind since our prehistoric ancestors enshrined equines in cave paintings.
Yet most people don’t have contact with horses in daily life anymore. Fortunately there are many opportunities to keep the positive tradition of horsemanship in our culture through recreation, sport and therapy. These spirited and beneficial activities are part of a unique world that must be reintroduced to every new human generation.
The new challenge for the equine industry is to share the excitement and value of horses, something never needed before our technological era. By reaching out to the general public the amazing experience of horsemanship can be honored and passed on to new generations.
__________________
Image Credit
Photo of horse greeting during the ‘Blessing of the Animals‘ service at Arlington Street Church (Boston, 2011)