The future of the horse-human relationship likely lies in equine-assisted therapy and other ways of 'valuing horses for all the things they can do,' said Olsen. | Photo: iStock

“Horses have played a variety of vital roles in societies over the millennia, including ones related to diet, transportation, work, religion, property and commodities, military service, status, and sports,” said Sandra Olsen, PhD, zooarchaeologist and professor at the University of Kansas.

Olsen spoke on the topic of how humans and horses began this relationship during her plenary lecture at the 15^th Conference of the International Society for Equitation Science (ISES), held Aug. 19-21 in Guelph, Ontario, Canada.

“They’ve been valued across the history of time for various reasons, including their milk, their meat, and their power,” she continued. “And in modern times, of course, they’re often valued for their companionship. So the relationship has gradually improved, if we look at things from the horse’s point of view