While oxen were used very early on to haul sledges over barely detectable paths, it was the horse that provided most of the power on land. Hauling wagons and pulling ploughs and other farm machinery was left to the big, patient work horses.
Farm wagons that hauled farm produce and hay all week became the community bus on days off when whole families headed off to a park for a picnic or to visit friends.
A team of horses allowed a man to get work on the road-building and other work crews which could bring in much needed cash wages or reduce his taxes.
Our first police car was a horse. Constable Pope used his horse to travel his areas of responsibility. The community did not get an actual car until 1922.