How horses were used in world war one Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

How horses were used in world war one - Essay Example The perceived value of animals in wars which had always been gigantic prior to WWI went through some changes. However, saying that horses did not play a valuable role in this war would be empty mockery. This paper aims to establish this opinion that WWI hugely influenced human and animal interrelationships by the way horses were used in the war. It will also highlight different ways in which horses were used. This paper purposed to explain the interrelationship between humans and horses and ascertain that indeed this interrelationship still exists and is still important. Horses are strong animals. They are able to travel great distances, carry heavy loads, endure long hours of travel and work, that cannot be managed by human beings. They are fast compared to human beings and thus were majorly used in sending messages. History shows that cavalry units or warriors mounted on horseback formed an essential constituent of a military force. It is claimed that â€Å"the best horses were taken by the cavalry† (Breverton). The greater the number of horses, the stronger a military force was considered. This is before the vulnerability of animals to modern artillery was much of an issue. However, horses continued to be used in WWI because warfare was also going through important changes in this time period. Warfare used in WWI had not been used before, so not much was known by the combatants about the vulnerability of animals before machine guns or tanks. It should be remembered that this war changed the concept of armed conflict. This is because it rep resents a very important transition from the use of horses to modern artillery. WWI was started with cavalry forces, but the favor shifted from horses to machine guns over passing time. This shift also occurred because â€Å"supplying the fodder for horses and mules was a permanent problem† (Breverton). WWI marks a transition period in human and animal interrelationships. This means that humans did not use horses as