What Does The Horse Represent In Canadian History?

The Canadian horse is known for its great strength and endurance, resilience, intelligence and good temper

The wild horse herds that once roamed the Great Lakes region came to hold deep cultural significance for the Ojibwe communities who lived there. They are considered a spirit animal and a traditional helper of Indigenous peoples

Horses provided the first means of fast travel. This sped up migration, trade, and communication between cultures. They helped languages and cultures spread around the world. They helped people do work, from plowing fields to hauling goods.

Horses transformed the way of life for many tribes becoming their primary means of both travel and hunting and they became valiant warriors in times of war.

Throughout history horses signified strength, power, and wealth. Tribes, colonies, and landowners we’re often valued on how many horses they had In their possession. Horses were often traded for food, or shelter. And in times of war horses were often stolen and even villages burned to the ground just so the opposition could take the horses.

 Even in our own recent history we showcase all the above mentioned through filmmaking, In old films up to recent modern day movies Humans have showcased how valuable horses are.

I find this a very significant topic for metal detecting and detectorists around the world. There is certainly no lack of finding horse related items when metal detecting. However usually horse tack or related horse items are either discarded or not often talked about by detectorists. Which is why I have decided to write this blog dedicated to horses and their Significance of World history, & not just Canadian history.

This past spring the southeastern Ontario metal detecting club had their first group hunt in Glenburnie Ontario. During this hunt I was quite excited to find my very first piece of horse related items. I found a horse tack buckle, yet when I showed it to one of our members he just shrugged it off as if it was nothing important.

Now, honestly I get it, horse items are very regularly found and common within the detecting world. So for many,  finding these items is really no big deal.

 

But as a detectorist I find that one of the most interesting part about the hobby is finding items of history, and if I’m to be honest within myself and to this hobby, one of the biggest pieces of history known to man, which infact changed the way humans communicated and lived in general, Was when we discovered how do utilize “the horse“

So to date, I have found two pieces of horse equipment the first being the horse tack buckle and the second I found about a week ago when I went wandering in a forest near by my house when I found my very first horseshoe. I just feel that these items needed to be talked about and respected as a part of our human culture. And our history.