Top 10 Fastest Race Horses Of All Time

The fates of horses and humans have been woven together for millennia. Horses have transported us and helped us cultivate food; they’ve been with us in battle, and they’ve carried us in sport. We, in turn, have largely evolved to reciprocate, providing horses with care and companionship. But as moments like the one between Bronco and his rider on that day suggest, the bond between the two species may run much deeper than that.

In fact, an emerging body of scientific evidence indicates that interacting with horses improves health and well-being and can help people with numerous physical and mental health conditions, from children living with motor disabilities to adults grappling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

And, as researchers are only now beginning to scratch the surface of the many ways in which partnering with horses can impact human well-being, many believe it is more important than ever to return the favor and find new ways to help horses live longer and happier lives.

“The horse is an amazing animal, and there’s so much research now that is advancing our understanding of how horse-human interactions impact health,” said Dr. Pebbles Turbeville, executive director of the nonprofit Horses & Humans Research Foundation, which invests in studies that explore how horse-human interactions benefit both species. The foundation has funded $655,000 across 14 high quality research studies on cerebral palsy in physical and occupational therapy, autism and military veterans. At the same time, industry leaders like Zoetis, the world’s largest company solely dedicated to animal health, are making major advances in equine medicine and standards of care to help horses live healthier, more fulfilling lives—an investment that, it seems, could ultimately benefit us all.