A World Without Horses?

Horses have been walking planet Earth for more than 50 million years; it is obvious that their presence throughout the world proved to be extremely beneficial then and now. The horse has become such a significant figure in today's society and they cannot be ignored.
Starting out as merely modes of transportation to early people to battling alongside soldiers in wars before the introduction of heavy machinery such as tanks, the horse has always been there to help mankind. They provide physical and emotional help through therapy to those who are in need and are a part of our police forces assisting mounted officers everyday. Horses are also an amazing form of recreation for those who truly love the animal. From jumping to barrel racing to just plain pleasure riding, people all over the world value the horse as part of their family.
With over 300 breeds across the globe and an ever-changing range of colors and markings, every horse is unique in their own special way. Unfortunately there are those who see horses only as meat to be sold, causing horse slaughter to be a common problem in foreign countries. Thankfully, horse slaughter houses that had been operating on US soil have been shut down but everyday horses are exported to Canada and Mexico to be sold for meat. Efforts are continually being put into effect to end this horrible occurrence and are, slowly but surely, working.
Taking a step back and truly analyzing the horse and it's contribution to the world's society makes me wonder, what would the wold be without horses?
Sponenberg "The Proliferation of Horse Breeds" Horses Through Time pp. 156–57