1800 - THE GREAT AGE OF HORSEPOWER

The early 1800s experienced such rapid growth in technology that the age was called “The Industrial Revolution.” Even with the new technology, the demand for horses increased for the transportation of people, the movement of manufactured goods, and as a source of power for agricultural machinery. Horses drew omnibuses and carriages within cities and pulled stagecoaches between towns not connected by the steam railways. Even in areas served by the train, the harness horse carried people and goods to and from the “Iron Horse.” During the 19th century, canals were constructed throughout Europe and the eastern United States, with horses and mules providing the power to tow the canal barges. Horses supplied the power to plow fields and, once the crops were in, the horses drew the produce wagons to market or to the railroad.