Pakissan.com; Utility of Horses and Mules at National and International level

Utility of Horses and Mules at National and International level
Brigadier Khalid Hemeed Chughtai

Introduction
Pakistan is a country of horse lovers and despite the switch to modern means of transportation, horse is an animal seen well integrated into every day life. While, the traditional Yaka (Tonga) or two wheel carriage is on the decline, there is no city or town in Pakistan except perhaps Islamabad the Capital city, where horse driven carts are not seen. These carts are reminiscent of a glorious past of the horse in this part of world.

The rural scene is still dominated by the horse and it is ridden freely by both men and women. Given the rugged and diverse terrain of the country, horses are used to reach far fetched areas where the road system has not yet been developed. Such areas in Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan are best served by horse and camel. In northern mountains ponies are means of transport for the Nomads.

The past few years have seen some negative connotations attached to the horse. Some have labeled it the rich man's animal or the politics of "Horse Trading". The newspapers have leashed out at some political personalities regarding the expanses incurred on horses and termed it a waste. This negative campaigning at times has hurt the cause of horses in the country.

We are not talking about imported horses or horses tucked away in isolated stables and those that serve as show pieces for royalty, but will discuss animals that have served mankind over centuries and the people who have tried to preserve this tradition as a duty bestowed to civilized and cultured nations.

Pakistan has a large equine wealth. We breed some the best Thoroughbreds (TBP) in the region and regularly upgrade our stock through imports from Ireland and Australia. Besides this our Army establishments are world renowned for breeding remount horses that have proven themselves in all types of rugged terrain on which they have to perform.

Today the horse has been relegated a reduced role in the economy and is becoming more and more restricted to sports and pleasure. As elsewhere, particularly in the urban areas the mode of transportation is changing, when incomes increase and rural infrastructure improves the horse will eventually be replaced by the bicycles and motorbikes.

Horse and Islam

In Pakistan interest in the horse stems from a long tradition of chivalry and glorious past and contact with Islamic world. Starting from Muhammad Bin Qasim's invasion into Sindh in 712 A.D and close contact with Arabian Peninsula given the bordering Middle East and time immemorial pilgrimages to Mecca on foot. The horse has always been the symbol of power, integrity and honor in the Islamic world. No other religion can boast such love for this God's creature than Islam. It has served its cause throughout the world and has left its marks on the most cultured and civilized societies of Europe and Asia. Many traditions of the Prophet Muhammad signify the importance of the horse in the Islamic culture.

Some of these tradition are reproduced here:

A tradition related by Hazrat Ibn-e-Umar states that the Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him) said a horse's face has peace and prosperity embedded in it till the day of judgment.
Ibn-e-Abbas relates that the prophet Muhammad said that Allah's blessings are greatest for horses of bay color.
Abu Harara quotes the prophet saying that anyone who keeps a horse in his house, believes in Allah, believes in the promises God has made, for him whatever he feeds to his horse and how well he takes care of him. On the day of Judgment the weight of the horse will be added to his deeds.
Every Muslim must have as many horses as he can afford.
He who keeps a mare for the sake of God deserves his mercy and generosity as if he is fasting and as long as he keeps it.
When Arabian horses collect and run together, the chestnut will be the leader.
To obtain your thing, ride a bay brown attentive horse with 3 stockings without white on its off fore.
I became a Prophet while I was riding a piebald mare dressed in velvet and silk.
Every man who has a horse is like a godly man generous in alms giving.
Mares are preferred to stallions because bounty and happiness are on their backs.
The Prophet once said…the angels watch over only three of man's pleasures: the practice of war, the husband's enjoyment of his wife and horse racing.
The "Kasum" or swearing is by the faithfulness of the horse who does so much for his owner for a petty favour of feed and husbandry how much generosity is bestowed by Allah on his human kind, we blunder by focusing on the material side of life and by neglecting his duties.
Brief History of the Horse
Domestication of Horse
Archeological and pale ontological evidence indicates that the horse was domesticated about 5,000 years ago. The horse came late into our lives but lost no time in transforming us. About 2,000 BC the Hittites were using the horse for war and they were winning. It was the Hittites who left the first text on the care and rearing of horses. The document was written about 1,600 BC and contains some advice about the training of a horse.
The Cart Before the Horse
The prevailing view among paleo-historians is that the first horses to be tamed were hitched to carts before being mounted. They base their conclusions on early depictions of horses that appear to be too small to carry an adult human. Oxen, asses, onagers and other hoofed animals had been drawing carts in the Middle East well before the horse was tamed and it would not have been impossible to adapt one of those carts for a small horse. It must have taken a long time even after horses were used to be herded for human beings and horses to adjust to riding.
Riding
Evidence emerges towards the end of the first millennium, almost 2,000 years after the horse was domesticated. Domestication and training of horses had a profound impact on the people of Eurasia. Suddenly, the horizon expanded, travel beyond the limits of one's own two legs became possible Most human activities can be categorized as war, travel, work, or leisure. The horse has been indispensable in all four.
War
The horse proved its worth first in war, as it was by far the fastest, most agile and most maneuverable engine for a chariot or a mounted soldier. The Hittites or Hyksos, invented the war chariot and conquered Mesopotamia and Egypt around 1800 B.C. Individual mounted soldiers do not appear in historical records until some 800 years later, around 1,000 B.C. Scholars explain the long interval as the result of needing to breed larger and stronger horses to carry an armored man.
Travel
After winning the wars, the conquerors had to keep control over their far-flung territories. Until the steam engine and the telegraph appeared in the 19th century, there was no match for the horse for swift travel and communications. The Persians in the fifth century B.C, built the largest empire of their time and dispatched commands from their capital using relays of mounted couriers Building and maintaining empires was in early times the principal means of encountering other cultures. Travel and trade extended that contact and produced the spread of ideas that created the civilizations of the ancient world.
Leisure
When people took time out from fighting each other, they found in the horse a handy source of entertainment. As soon as humans learned to ride, they realized they could chase bigger and more challenging games for the table or for sport. Persians and Greeks staged horse races and both seem to have been the earliest people to take an active interest in horsemanship as a discipline.
Work
Until the invention of the internal combustion engine, horses and horse-drawn vehicles were the only effective means to cover large distances, plough the soil, transport merchandise and wage war. For just one species, the influence of the horse has been immeasurably profound.
Equestrian Sports
The precise date of first Equestrian sport may be difficult to state but one knows that horsemen pitted their skills against one another in sporting contests hundreds of years B.C. Contests on horseback and chariot racing were very popular in ancient days. Equestrian games were included in the Olympic Games at Paris in 1902, The first Three Day Event was conducted at Stockholm Olympics in 1912. The modern Three Day Event was introduced in Paris Olympics of 1924. Women riders were permitted in Olympics in 1964.
History of Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI)
FEI was born on 28th May 1921 with eight member countries i.e United States, France, Japan, Sweden, Belgium, Itlay, Norway and Denmark. The first President was Baron-Du-Teil (France). Ever since, it has brought under its control, all International Equestrian Competitions and is progressing horsemanship in the world. It has now over 100 members countries.
Asian Equestrian Federation
The Asian Equestrian Federation (AEF) was formed during the 8th Asian Games Federation Meeting held at Bangkok (Thailand) in December 1978. Gen.O.P Malhotra, PVSM from India was elected as the founder President with 18 member countries. Four prominent persons of the Equestrian field from Iraq, Japan, Philippines and People's Republic of China, were elected as Vice Presidents. The Executive Members were elected from Indonesia, Hong Kong, Iran and Singapore.

Classes of Horses
Horses may be classified as light horses, ponies, or draught horses, according to size, build, and use.
Light horses stand 14-2 to 17 hands high, weigh 900 to 1,400 lb, and are used primarily for riding, driving, racing, or for utility purposes. Light horses generally are more rangy and are capable of more action and greater speed than draught horses.
Ponies stand under 14-2 hands high and weigh 500 to 900 lb.
Draught horses stand 14-2 to 17-2 hands high, weigh 1,400 lb or more and are suited for drawing loads and for other heavy work. Toady, draught horses are of negligible importance and primarily of historical interest only.
Light Horses -Type and Uses
Riding Horses and Ponies
Riding horses and ponies have many and varied uses, but as the name indicates, they are all ridden. They may have a very definite utility value, as is true of stock horses, or they may be used chiefly for purposes of recreation and sport.
Three and Five-Gaited Saddle Horses
The gaits of a 3-gaited horse are the walk, the trot and the canter. In addition to perform these same gaits, the 5-gaited horse must possess a slow gait and the rack. The slow gait may be either the running walk, fox trot or stepping pace (slow pace) but for show purposes, only the stepping pace is accepted
Walking Horses
This particular class of horse is largely comprised of one breed "The Tennessee Walking Horse". At the running walk there is a characteristic nodding of the head. Sometimes there is also a flopping of the ears and a snapping of the teeth while the animal is in this rhythmic movement. Walking horses are also noted for their wonderful dispositions. Their easy gaits and a superb disposition make them an ideal type of horse for the amateur rider or the professional society person who rides infrequently.
Stock Horses
Stock horses constitute the largest single class of light horses. They are the cow ponies of the West. Usually, stock horses are of mixed breeding. Most generally they are descendants from the Mustang, the feral horse of the United States. In addition to being game and hardy, the stock horse must be agile, surefooted, fast, short coupled, deep, powerfully muscled, durable and possess good feet and legs.
Equine Sports Horses In addition to racing, horses are used for many equine sports, including dressage, endurance traits, hunting/ show jumping, polo and parades. Purebreds, crossbreds, and grades of the following breeds are especially well adapted to the equine sports Akhal-Teke, American Crème and American White, Lipizzan Thorcheron, Thoroughbred, and Trakehner.

Dressage is the guiding of a horse through natural maneuvers without emphasis on the use of reins, hands and feet. The term dressage comes from the French verb meaning to train. After the horse has learned to respond to the simple directions of moving forward, backward, turning, changing gait and halting, equestrians develop the horse's strength by giving special exercises to develop these traits.
Endurance Traits (Rides) Competitive tests designed to test the stamina of horses are known as endurance traits. The riders must take their horses over a prescribed course, which is usually of rugged terrain and which may require anywhere from one to three days to cover. The time for the different courses varies according to the topography, elevation and footing.
Hunting and Show Jumping The hunter is that type of horse which is used in following the hounds in fox hunting. The sport is traditional in England. The hunter is not necessarily of any particular breed, but Thoroughbred blood predominates. They must be able to hurdle with safety such common field obstacles as fences and ditches. The good hunter, therefore, is rugged, short coupled and heavily muscled throughout. Jumpers are a non descriptive group, consisting of all breeds and types, the only requisite is that they can jump.
Polo Horses that are particularly adapted for use in playing the game of polo. This game, which first introduced in 1876, is played by four mounted players of each team. The object is to drive a wooden ball between two goalposts at either end of a playing field 300 yards long and 120 to 150 yards wide. Horses up to 14-2 hands were accepted, and more recently horses upto 15-2 and over have been used.
Parade horses Horses of any breed, cross or color are used under elaborate Western, Mexican, or Spanish equipment in parades. Attractive colors and good manners are important. Parade horses are shown at an animated walk and a parade gait.
Ponies for Riding
Several pony breeds are used for riding; among them, are Connemara, Gotland Horse, Pony of America, Shetland and Welsh. In the 1950s, the Welsh Pony and the Tennessee Walking Horses were crossed to create the American Walking Pony. In the 1960s, the Shetland and Hackney breeds were crossed to produce the Saddle bred type of pony. In 1980, the Welara Pony Society was formed to register the breed created by crossing the Arabian and Welsh breeds.

Race Horses
The term racehorse refers to a horse that is bred and trained for racing. Today, three types of horse races are run:
Running races (including steeplechase races) commonly used horses are Thorough breds.
Quarter races, commonly used Horses are Quarter Horses
Harness races, commonly used are Standard breds.
Driving Horses and Ponies
Driving horses and ponies are used chiefly for purposes of recreation. According to the specific use made of them, driving horses are classified as
Heavy Harness Horses
Fine Harness Horses
Roadsters
Harness Show Ponies
Heavy Harness ponies

All Purpose Horses and Ponies
All purpose horses are used for riding, driving, and carriage. They may be used for pleasure riding, carriage horses, show jumping, hunting, trial riding, stock horses or for light draught purposes. They are family type horses, suitable for both children and adults. Because of their versatility, they are especially well adapted for use by suburban and part time farm families. The following breeds are extolled as all purpose horses and ponies. American Bashki Curly, American Gotland Horse, Hafinger and Norwegain Fjord Horse.

Miniature Horses

The Miniature Horse is a scaled-down model of a full-sized horse and not a dwarf. The American Miniature Horse Association, which was organized in 1978, stipulates that a Miniature Horse cannot exceed 34 inches at the withers. Some people keep Miniature Horse as pets. Other exhibit them as driving horses, in single pleasure and roadster driving classes. Still others exhibit them in multiple hitches, pulling miniature wagons, stage coaches, carriages and other vehicles. Although they can pull a pretty good load, because of their small size only a small child can ride them.

Mules

A mule is a cross between two species of equine the horse (Equus caballus) and the domestic donkey. The word 'mule' is used for the cross of male donkey on female horse. The mule proper is said to have the body of a horse with the extremities of a donkey. They have all the normal sexual characteristics, both physical and temperamental, but males are always infertile but castrated to avoid them becoming aggressive; most females come into season either regularly or occasionally, but are only rarely 'mareish'. They are very easy to look after in that they are rarely ill or lame, rarely need shoeing, are not fussy about their food and can withstand extremes of climate.

Temperament

Mules are more intelligent than horses and are very quick to learn, with a grasp of a situation which often seems little short of miraculous. A well-trained and handled mule is obliging, kind, patient, persevering, calm, but a badly trained and handled mule can be a problem. Mules are only bad-tempered if handled incorrectly and with lack of understanding. They can kick with great speed and accuracy, but only do so in self-defence.

They are exceptionally intelligent, which some handlers find difficult to cope with this and their great sense of self-preservation accounts for their totally undeserved reputation for stubbornness. If mule and handler trust and understand each other, so that the mule knows that what he is asked to do is in his interests, there will be no problems.

Advantages and uses

Mules, having hybrid vigour, can grow taller than both parents. Weight for weight they are stronger than horses and are much longer-lived with much longer working lives, although maturing slightly later. They rarely become ill or lame or suffer wounds, can withstand extremes of temperature, can live on frugal rations, have tremendous stamina and resilience and are exceptionally sure-footed.

It was the mule, because of its sure-footedness and sturdy qualities that was in demand as the pack animal. In all previous wars requirements for horses far exceeded those for mules, but in World War II this situation was reversed and the mule became the No.1 animal of the Army. The need for horses, on the other hand, steadily declined. This development was a milestone in military history, for, since ancient times, these animals had been used to carry troops and to haul supplies.
Anything you can use horses and ponies for, depending only on size: riding, racing, endurance riding, hunting, jumping, gymkhanas, dressage, shepherding etc, in harness, private driving, scurrying, cross country, dressage, light and heavy haulage, agricultural work; under pack for work or leisure.

There is no question about the need for animals in rugged mountain terrain where few if any roads existed. Animals are needed for pack supplies to the foxholes, the dugouts and gun emplacements of the troops who carried the fight to the enemy. The mule was preferred to the horse for this task because it was surer of foot and more hardy.

The principal function of animal transport was to supply ammunition, water and food and to a lesser degree, to move heavy weapons to troops at points that could not be reached by motor vehicles. Mules were also utilized to some extent in the evacuation of wounded personnel.

Future of Horses and Mules

This generation has more money to spend and more leisure time in which to spend it than any population in history. A shorter work week, increased automation, suburban and rural living and the continue recreation and sports surge with emphasis on physical fitness and out of door will require more horses, shows and other horse events.

Horse racing will continue to be a popular sport, although there will increased competitions for recreation and sports in the years ahead. In the final analysis the dominant factors that will determine the future of horse industry are

The need for cow pony
The use of horses for recreation and sports

All progressive nations of the world have specialized in horse breeding. Civility in many countries is viewed through the preservation and improvement of horses and equestrian sports. While, Pakistan also claims originality in many aspects particularly tent pegging and dancing. We have not paid sufficient attention to breeding. The main uses of the Horse is the carriage and riding in remote villages. With major investments in infrastructure, overtime horse will be relegated a lesser role for transport and carriage. However, those enthusiasts who keep horses will continue to do so.

Increased income levels also force people to look for prestigious pursuits. There is nothing more fascinating than well bred horses. While Rolls Royce and great mansions can be acquired by anyone with wealth the chosen few will keep horses as part of tradition of a glorious past. There is a need to educate the general public that keeping horses is not lavishness. Good horses are a source of national pride and those who can afford them should be encouraged to maintain elite bloodlines for sports and conservation. As Muslims it is even a sacred duty to keep horses of Arab origin. Perhaps inclusion of elite Arab blood in the population will do more good than upgrading with cold or warm-blooded horses.

The Army has the largest establishments and good bloodlines. Horse breeding stud was established in 1956 in Remount Depot Mona to progenerate horse stallions. The stud is involved in breeding high quality, pedigreed Thoroughbred and Arab stallions. The blood stock is periodically reinvigorated with imported horse stallions from various parts of Europe and America. Remount Depot Mona is the only institution and organization of Pakistan, which has the ability to breed and train horses as well as riders up to international standards. In recent years valuable foreign exchange has been earned by export of horses to Nepal and UAE.

World Arab Horse Organization (WAHO) approved the membership Arab stud of Mona during its conference in 1998. Now the Arab stock of horse breeding stud of Remount Depot Mona consisting of more than hundred animals which has been registered with WAHO including progeny of mare Nasim-E-Hejaz, a present from HH Ibn Saud to late President Muhammad Ayub Khan in 1960. This membership has established a worldwide recognition of Pak Arab stock of horses and intern will enhance the scope for export of horses particularly to Europe and America.

Never have there been so many reasons to have confidence in and to be optimistic about the future. The years ahead will be the most rewarding in the history of the horse industry.

Horses and Mules in Modern Warfare

Animal requirements in a war of movement is always greater than in a war of position and it is an established fact that the shortage of horses, artillery and transport, seriously hampered the successful and expeditious execution of operation.

The dependability of the animal is its greatest asset and it is still the most sure and reliable means of transportation. We now find it in the advance area hauling ammunition, machine guns, trench mortars, carts, rolling kitchens, ambulances, combat wagons, etc., to the fighting front where its life is short and its work is of the most arduous and dangerous nature.

One wonders that in this "Motor Age," whether the horse, as well as his hybrid half-brother, the mule will not in the very near future be relegated to an inactive status and the word "obsolete" is placed opposite his name on the supply list".
Through the ages of conflict and strife the horse has been the constant companion and steadfast friend of the soldier, sharing his sufferings and dangers, his toil and hardship and consecrating the battlefields with his blood. The mule likewise has been the army's devoted friend, patiently bearing his burden that the army might be supplied.

Conclusion
Horsemen say, "There's something about the outside of a horse that's good for the inside of a man." Good things indeed come from working with horses a companionship based on mutual dependency, trust and a common goal and a unique intimacy with another species.

Since horses were first domesticated approximately 5000 years ago they have been of great value and service to mankind. Horses probably were first used to carry soldiers into battle, but they soon found a role in transportation and farming.

The introduction of horses into America had significant effects upon the lives of American Indians. Machines will never replace the horses for many purposes. The beauty of horse and wide variety of sizes, colours and gaits make them very popular for riding, driving and showing.

Man's progress wasn't too swift until he got on the horse's back, then the whole human race began to boogie. Exactly when man domesticated the riding horse is questionable. Which of the many human societies first utilized the horse as a mount is debatable. But the fact progress went from a walk to a gallop once man and horse became partners is undeniable. "The dog may be man's best friend, but it was the horse that built civilization".

The breeding, feeding, managing, training and showing of horses require patience and skill, but in this day of rockets and space ships, the horse offers pleasurable and desirable means of recreation and relaxation to those seeking a change of pace.

References
Kacker, R.N. and B.S. Panwar (1996) Text Book of Equine Husbandry, Vikas Publishing House, New Delhi, 66-69 and 167-190.

Ensminger, M.E. (1991) Animal Science, 9th Ed, Interstate Publishers, Inc,
Illinois: 941-964.

Amir,P. (1997) Oriental Horses of Pakistan, Asianics Agro - Dev.
Islamabad, 8-22 and 110-114.

Cambel, J.R. and J.F. Lasely (1975) The Science of Animals That Serve
Mankind, II nd Ed, Mc Grawhill Book Coy, New York, 548-581.

About the Author
Brigadier Khalid Hemeed Chughtai was commissioned in Remount veterinary and Farms Corps in 1973. He did his BVSc, B.Sc (AH) and post graduation from college of veterinary sciences, Lahore. Throughout his professional career he has done various courses including dog-training course from Germany. He has vast expertise in field of breeding, management and training of equines as well as canines. He has served on various command, instructional and staff appointments. Beside, commanding the world renowned remount depot Mona, he has also commanded the Army dog breeding, training center and school, Rawalpindi, the one of its kind in Pakistan. The invaluable achievement regarding the membership of World Arab Horse Organization (WAHO) for Arab stock of remount depot Mona was a mile stone in the equine history and speaks of his dedication, devotion and tireless efforts in field of equine husbandry. Presently he is in the General Head Quarters, Rawalpindi and holding the key appointment of Director Remount, Veterinary and Farms Corps.

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