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[Intro]
People ride and work with horses for a lot of different reasons. A horse can get into country that wheeled vehicles can't; they are quick when needed but happy to wander along a country trail or through a river.
Whether you are a police officer, stockman, sportsman or a child looking for fun the horse is an ideal and willing partner.
We all have dreams and aspirations around our work and play. For some the horse offers a promise of freedom and mobility that would otherwise be denied.
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The horse breeds we know today are predominantly derived from the Arabian.
The Arabian horse was bred by the Bed-o-win as a war mount that could handle both long treks and short forays into enemy camps.
The harsh desert conditions that these horses lived in required that they develop large lungs and nostrils.
The modern Arabian looks very much like its ancestor. They can be found in almost every equestrian sport including Racing, Showing and Dressage.
They are the undisputed kings of endurance riding.
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While the Arabian was ideal for travelling long distances in the desert a different horse was needed to carry knights into battle.
A strong backed horse was required to carry the weight of armour and weaponry.
With all that armour the riders had virtually no ability to move so they needed an horse that was agile and sensitive to keep them effective in battle.
Heavy draft breeds that are well muscled and known for the willingness to work were the ideal war horses.
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The Free-shen horse is the only native horse of The Netherlands and it was bred as a war horse.
During the crusades it is likely that the Free-shen horse was crossed with the Arabian and And-a-loo-shun.
Towards the end of the 19th century the Free-shen horse became a symbol of the owner's wealth.
They were prized by the nobility and were most commonly used for bringing upper middle class farmers to church on Sundays. They were also used in a short form of ridden trotting race.
With agriculture and mechanisation this breed was almost lost. It wasn't until the 1960s the breed's importance was recognised and a breeding program was put in place.
The modern Free-shen horse is most commonly seen in recreational riding, driving and dressage.
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Lighter horses were required for mounted combat. We all know the importance of the whaler in Australia's military history. The Australian Light Horse is legendary.
Today horses still play an important role in law enforcement. These highly trained officers and their very special horses are a highly visible presence and are able get into areas where vehicles can't. They are also a magnet to horse lovers.
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Once their role as war horses came to an end horses were required for pulling stage coaches and hauling heavy goods.
The Per-sher-ron horse was developed in France for this purpose. Arabian blood was added to the heavy horses to develop a horse that was able to trot day in and day out hauling stage coaches.
Farmers relied heavily on horses for both transport and agriculture. They were used for ploughing fields and hauling large loads to docks and rail heads.
Farmers relied heavily on horses for both transport and agriculture. They were used for ploughing fields and hauling large loads to docks and rail heads.
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These days the Per-sher-ron still has a role. It has a graceful style to pull a fine carriage. Some are known as showjumping horses and they make great vaulting horses.
In some areas they continue to be used for agriculture in areas that are inaccessible to tractors -- particularly in logging areas.
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Lighter horses were required when the farmers wanted to have fun. The heavy horses were crossed with lighter horses like Arabian and thoroughbreds. So began the development of the Warmblood.
The Warmblood was developed as a horse that could plough a paddock during the week, take the family to church in a carriage on Sunday and then go hunting.
The modern Warmblood is purpose bred for equestrian sport.
When the Inclosures Act came into force in England in the 18th century property owners began building fences around their properties. Anyone wishing to hunt then needed a horse that could jump the fences.
Eventing and Showjumping are sports that can be traced directly back to this Act.
Cross Country riding is exciting for the participants but wasn't that great as a spectator sport. It wasn't long before jumping in a confined area became a sport -- show jumping was born.
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The same athleticism that makes Warmblood horses ideal jumping horses equally makes them ideal dressage horses.
The principles of classical dressage were first documented by the Greek General, Xenophon who lived from 430 -- 354 BC.
Dressage riding was not an end in itself. Dressage is the gymnastic development of the horse.
It's purpose is to develop the strength and suppleness of the ridden horse to enable it to carry out its required tasks in comfort and with low risk of injury.
The sport of dressage has largely developed in the 20th century with its first appearance at an Olympic Games in 1912. As a dressage horse progresses...