Salter
Honors English I/Green 2
26 September 2014
"For most of history, the human need for the horse was as a tangible part of the workforce. From plowing fields to being a major source of transportation, humans used the horse to help develop modern civilization. One such use of the horse was pulling the wagons for fire departments. They became the firefighters’ trusted partners." (Longaberger) During the period of the Civil War to the early 1920's, humans found an efficient way to haul their firefighting wagons. The horse is a large, hardworking breed of horse that has an average weight of 1,500 pounds. The anatomy of the horse includes a plethora of large muscles and sturdy bones. Obviously, this massive animal of power would be able to pull a much heavier load faster than ever before accomplished by humans. During this time period "fire horses" bravely transported water tanks and other firefighting materials to burning locations. For one of these animals to be qualified to fight fires it had to undergo a rigorous two-year training program, and qualify for weight organized jobs. . History has been greatly influenced by these unique animals and that is reflected in several cultures around the world.
I personally believe that this part of our history is amazing. When people see a broken down horse somewhere in rugged pasture on the side of the road, they most often think nothing of it. However, I immediately stop and gaze. People are so glued to their technology today that they ignorantly believe that they know everything about the no-WiFi world around them. Most people don't look close enough at these magnificent animals in our world. Horses are these huge, powerful creatures that have the power to kill, fly without wins, and cause a flurry of emotions in any humans heart. To experience this, you just have to look close enough. I would just like to remind people that these beautiful animals had to carry OUR equipment, to save US, because WE couldn't do it ourselves.
Works cited:
Longaberger, Heidi. "Famous Horses In History: The Fire Horse." Scoop.it. www.scoop.it.com, 31 Jan. 2012. Web. 26 Sept. 2014. <http://www.equitrekking.com/articles/entry/famous_horses_in_history_-_the_fire_horse/>.
