A Portrait of the Horse

It has taken nearly 60 million years for the horse to evolve from Eohippus, the Dawn Horse, to the modern horse we know and love today. Horse-lovers do not need to be reminded of the debt they owe Equus caballus, but to others, this may not be so immediately apparent. While the horse has been eulogized and has on occasion even assumed mythical proportions, it is at heart a practical creature. While it has achieved harmony with mankind, it has never forgotten its place within the natural world. In a sense, the horse can be seen as man's traveling companion through life, and this is a task he as accepted with generosity and grace over many thousands of years. The horse, more than any other animal, has had the strongest connections with human history, and his influence on our culture has been profound. Before the dawning of the mechanical and industrial age, he was indispensable to man: while he was sharing our lives on a domestic level, he was also a beast of burden and a method of transport. From carrying conquering armies into battle, he has made the seamless transition to his latest incarnation as an athlete, and now excels in sport and competition.