GETTt ING TO KNOW... PERUVIAN PASO by Verne R. Albright
Following the seventeenth century, the uses for trotting horses increased. Networks of roads were Prior to the seventeenth century, most of the world’s horses were nat- built, and people began to travel by horse-drawn vehicles rather than urally gaited. Horses that trotted were the exception, and “Boneshak- on horseback. Since a horse that ers” as they were called were controts is more suitable than a gaited sidered suitable only as pack animals horse for pulling a wheeled vehicle, or mounts for servants. Almost all the breeding of trotting horses was increased at the expense of gaittraveling was done on horseback. ed horses. At about the same time, Since most people knew very little about riding, a smooth riding horse great expanses of land were devotwas a necessity. Even Knights - who ed for the first time to cattle raising, and the horse took on importance required trotting horses for battle often kept a naturally gaited horse as a tool for working the cattle. Here again the trotting horse has a greatwhich he would ride when traveling, er advantage over the gaited horse, leading his trotting horse behind.
25 • The Sound Advocate • Issue 1, 2022
