Worldwide, horses play a role within human cultures and have done so for millennia. Horses are used for leisure activities, sports, and working purposes The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that in 2008, there were almost 59,000,000 horses in the world, with around 33,500,000 in the Americas, 13,800,000 in Asia and 6,300,000 in Europe and smaller portions in Africa and Oceania. There are estimated to be 9,500,000 horses in the United States alone. The American Horse Council estimates that horse-related States alone The American Horse Council estimates that horse-related activities have a direct impact on the economy of the United States of over $39 billion, and when indirect spending is considered, the impact is over $102 billion. (Quoted from wikipedia.org - Horse)
Today, horses continue to play an imporant role in this country- aiding mounted police, park rangers, game wardens, search and rescue, ranchers, as well as working as therapy animals for injured and disabled children and veterans, and rehabilitating prison inmates. Horses and mules are even still being used in our military today (though on a much, much smaller scale - Fort Bragg Military HorsesMarines, Mules, and the Middle East).
