Yes, horses started out as transportation. Today, except for some working cattle, police horses, and horses for hire (trail rides, carriage rides), horses are used mostly for pleasure, either for competing or for the sheer enjoyment of riding. So much so that the state of California now classifies them as companion animals same as cats and dogs. But all companion animals require some work. Hutches, cages, and litterboxes need to be cleaned. Some need training and to be taken out for regular exercise. Horses are no different, they're just a lot bigger. They need food and water, which means hauling buckets and bales. Bedding is straw or wood shavings, and it has to be scooped out daily with a pitch fork or shovel and a wheelbarrow. They need a fenced space to run, like a dog does, but far larger than your yard, And like your dog, they need training, or they will be impossible to handle. If you think your dog walks you, this is an animal big enough and strong enough to drag you anywhere it wants, and it can do serious damage if not kill you just as easily. If you want to ride them or compete with them, they need still more training. They can develop bad habits if bored. They need regular dental care, as well as vacinations. There can be serious problems if they eat too much or too fast, or the wrong thing. And unlike other animals, they need shoes, custom fit and fastened, and as their hooves grow, they need trimming and re-fitting of the shoes. Remember; bigger animal, bigger bills.
