The place of horses in the modern world

The use of horses for work, sport, and entertainment has long symbolized cooperation between humans and nature, but today it raises increasing moral concerns. For some, it is a beautiful tradition and part of our culture; for others, an example of the heartless exploitation of animals for human comfort and profit. Critics point to horse racing, tourism, and carriage transport as examples of violence disguised as folklore and tradition. Opponents, however, forget that humans also work hard every day, often in much worse conditions, and no one calls for such work to be banned. So is it really about empathy toward horses, or rather an attempt to silence our own guilty conscience?