Present Day

Any genuine horseman who takes pride in their partnership will tell you why the endeavor is valuable and beneficial for both parties. They will speak of the myriad of ways in which horses contributes to their physical, mental, and even spiritual well-being. Yet there is another growing body thought that would seek to abolish horse use entirely or at least enforce extreme restrictions. From a utilitarian perspective horses are no longer a necessity for transportation, agriculture, or warfare and therefore we should return them to the wild and abstain from all involvement. Cases such as collapsing carriage horses in the streets are often cited as the justification for ending the practices of horse use altogether. This tension raises a fundamental question: What does ethical horsemanship look like in the modern world? To answer this, we can turn to psychology, philosophy, and tradition.

Horses, unlike typical livestock, have functioned as a form of technology, enhancing human capabilities. Even today, horses serve as invaluable partners in search-and-rescue, therapy, law enforcement, and sport. Their role continues to evolve alongside human progress, proving that they are not obsolete relics of the past, but an ever-adapting extension of human ingenuity.

Our treatment of horses reflects our moral character. Ethical horsemanship must be about cultivating a relationship based on mutual respect through effective communication. When done correctly, practice is a manifestation of our virtues - which should be developed with utmost care.

From a spiritual perspective, theists may recognize the human-horse relationship as a fractal of divinity. Just as a loving God does not force humans into obedience but rather invites them into a relationship of trust and growth, a good horseman does not dominate the horse's spirit by force, but communicates with patience and wisdom. Through this lens, horsemanship is not just a technical skill, it is a spiritual discipline through which we may experience humility, presence, and harmony with divine order.