Horses were first domesticated by humans about 5500 years ago, during the Stone Age. They were utilised for their strength in a number of industries including agriculture.
Horses were used in agriculture after 1066, replacing the ox, as they became preferred choice for hauling goods and plowing fields. With the production of the Tull’s seed drill in 1701, the horse became the animal of choice for not only plowing, but for planting seeds too. The benefits of using horses were that they fertilised the fields and reduced the number of manual labour for farmers.
With the end of the war, UK factories turned their attention back to manufacturing and with this saw the development of the modern-day tractor. During the 20’s, tractors were largely only found on large farms, this trend continued through depression of the 30’s, finally breaking in the 1940’s where we see the use of horses decline and the use of tractors on farms increase.
Even today, some countries still rely on horses and animal power in agriculture. For example, Amish communities in America still rely on horses to help with farming and with travelling, this is a way of life chosen through religion.
In areas such as rural India, Ethiopia and many regions in Romania, they simply cannot afford tractors and machinery to help with agricultural work and rely heavily on animal power and horses.
The use of horses in agriculture has recently come to the forefront of discussion, with some environmentalists believing they could help reduce our waste. But as our needs and wants continue to grow, would this be sustainable?
Sources:
https://animals.mom.me/earliest-horses-used-agriculture-2801.html
https://www.asme.org/engineering-topics/articles/history-of-mechanical-engineering/jethro-tull
https://livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe40s/machines_13.html
https://www.thebrooke.org/sites/default/files/Advocacy-and-policy/Invisible-workers-report.pdf
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/subdivisions/amish_1.shtml
https://www.lowtechmagazine.com/2008/04/horses-agricult.html
