| Horses have been closely associated with man for | | | | forces in the modern world, right up to today. |
| many thousands of years. They have been | | | | Of course, nowadays for most people in the West, |
| domesticated and used in agriculture, in transport, in | | | | horse riding is principally and sporting and leisure |
| trading, in hunting, and in war, since time immemorial. It is | | | | activity. There is a lot of enjoyment and satisfaction |
| not certain when horses were first rode, but there is | | | | that can be gained from riding a horse - whether or |
| some evidence that suggests this practice dates back | | | | not you wish to participate in competitive events such |
| at least 6,500 years (to approximately 4500 BCE), and | | | | as horse shows, jumping or racing. |
| began in what is today the Ukraine, in the region | | | | If you want to learn horse riding there are quite a few |
| between the Don and Dneiper Rivers. | | | | options. Obviously you will need access to horse and |
| One of the most historically significant uses of horses | | | | proper equipment, and you really ought to get proper |
| was in warfare. Most of us have heard stories about | | | | instruction from a qualified teacher. That said, there are |
| the Mongol hordes, medieval knights, and the US | | | | also many books and Internet web sites with |
| cavalry in the "Wild West", and thus know how | | | | information about horse riding - while no substitute for |
| important horse-mounted forces were in warfare. | | | | proper instruction, such resources may certainly help to |
| What many people do not know however is that | | | | provide you with additional knowledge and perspective |
| horses have continued to be used by some military | | | | on horse riding. |