Draft horses skid logs out of the forest, allowing for selective harvesting of timber and minimizing damage to the environment. Today, some people have kept the heritage of horse logging alive.
Horses and ponies were integral workers in coal mines, one of the world’s most hostile and dangerous working environments, in England, Wales, Canada and the United States.
These sturdy horses and mules carry gear and supplies, usually in panniers or sidebags, typically across rugged terrain. A good pack horse’s attributes include a combination of character, temperament, physical qualities, and skills.
Walking beside a canal on a towpath, a draft horse towing a boat with a rope could pull 50 times as much cargo as it could pull in a wagon on the road.
Dray (draft) horses were used to pull carts delivering barrels of beer to pubs. Today, a brewery in England has paired with Drayhorse Shires, continuing the tradition of beer delivered by horses.
Therapy horses are used in a range of programs to promote physical improvements and address mental health issues, helping challenged individuals improve their confidence from gaining better speech/communication, endurance, balance, and coordination.
In many cities, the police force mounted unit plays an essential role in crowd control at demonstrations and large events. Horses add height and visibility, and act as ambassadors with the public.
