THE HORSE IN URBAN AREAS: THE RETURN OF A FORGOTTEN ANIMAL?
A horse in an urban setting, symbolizing the quiet return of this animal to the heart of modern cities.
The image of the horse in modern cities may seem almost anachronistic, a relic from a mechanical past before the age of the combustion engine. Yet today, it is reappearing, sometimes symbolically and sometimes in practical ways, within contemporary urban spaces. This article offers a historical, functional, ecological and forward-looking overview of how the “forgotten horse” is being reconsidered in our cities.
I. Historical Heritage: From a Central Role to Gradual Disappearance
1. The Horse, Backbone of the Cities of the Past
Until the 19th century, horses were an essential part of urban life. They transported people in omnibuses and carriages, hauled goods, powered trams, delivered supplies and even pulled fire engines. European cities were designed with horses in mind, with streets, stables, and relay stations planned according to equine traffic. The horse was not just a farm animal but a true agent of urban life. In cities such as Paris, Brussels or Liège, the density of horse-drawn vehicles already posed challenges of congestion, hygiene and noise.
2. The Gradual Disappearance: Motorization and New Constraints
From the late 19th century through the 20th, steam, electric and gasoline engines progressively replaced the horse in urban use.This substitution was not immediate. In the 1950s and 1960s, some horses were still working in the streets for deliveries or maintenance. Urban modernity also played a major role: as cities became denser and roads adapted to cars, horses became less compatible with the new rhythm of life. The disappearance of urban stables and logistical infrastructures completed the decline of the city horse.
II. Contemporary Urban Functions: Signs of a Return
1. The Territorial or Municipal Horse
In France, the concept of the municipal horse refers to horses used by local authorities for urban tasks such as waste collection, green space maintenance, public safety patrols, or passenger transport. Introduced in the 1990s, this approach responds to both ecological and social goals. It reduces fuel consumption and restores a tangible connection between people and animals in the city. A few municipalities in France and Switzerland have successfully reintroduced horses for daily public services. Their benefits are primarily environmental, educational and touristic.
2. Mounted Police and Public Order
Many cities still employ mounted police units.These patrols provide security in parks, manage crowds during events and ensure a visible presence in pedestrian zones. The horse offers a higher vantage point, a calming presence and mobility in areas inaccessible to vehicles. Mounted police horses are specifically trained to remain calm in noisy, crowded and unpredictable environments, which requires exceptional training and care.
3. Cultural and Heritage Uses
Horses also reappear in urban events such as parades, shows, tourist rides and historical reenactments. These activities are not utilitarian but help reconnect the public imagination with the equestrian past. In historic city centers, carriages and tourist fiacres offer visitors a slower, more respectful way to explore the city.
III. Challenges and Constraints of the Urban Horse
1. Logistical and Infrastructural Challenges
Horses require space, water, feed, rest and care, which are difficult to provide in dense urban environments. Urban surfaces such as pavement or asphalt are hard on the hooves and require special shoeing. Noise, pollution and traffic can create stress and safety risks. Moreover, regulations concerning safety, hygiene and liability add complexity to any equine integration project.
2. Public Acceptance and Perception
The horse is often seen as a rural animal, unsuitable for the modern city. Some residents see it as a nuisance because of smells, noise or potential accidents. Maintenance costs — feed, veterinary care, trained staff — remain high. For horses to be accepted, they must be part of a coherent public policy, not just a nostalgic attraction.
3. Legal and Urban Planning Frameworks
The legal status of horses in the city is ambiguous: working animal, slow vehicle or municipal asset? Clear insurance coverage, defined responsibilities and designated zones are necessary. Urban planning must also include safe corridors for horses, similar to those for bicycles or pedestrians.
IV. Horses in Peri-Urban Areas: A Transitional and Experimental Space
1. The Suburban Fringes: A Space of Opportunity
In peri-urban zones, horses play an increasing role through riding centers, educational programs and environmental maintenance. These territories form a bridge between the urban and rural worlds, where the horse becomes a multifunctional actor — for sport, ecology and education alike.
2. Land Use Conflicts and Regulation
Land near cities is highly sought after, creating tension between urban expansion and equestrian activity. Noise, smells and traffic sometimes lead to conflicts between stables and residents. Municipalities must define specific zoning, buffer distances and sanitary rules to preserve equine presence.
3. Ecological Potential and Environmental Services
Horses can contribute to urban biodiversity through ecological grazing and gentle landscape maintenance. They support ecological transition by offering low-impact, non-motorized alternatives. They also provide educational and symbolic value, reconnecting city dwellers with the living world.
V. Toward a Renewal: Conditions and Perspectives
1. Conditions for a Sustainable Return
- Conduct local feasibility studies considering terrain, population density and budget.
- Involve residents and professionals from the outset.
- Provide specialized training for handlers and municipal staff.
- Create dedicated infrastructure such as stables and rest zones.
- Build hybrid funding models combining public funds, tourism and environmental partnerships.
2. Scenarios for the Future
- The useful horse: light transport, waste collection, park maintenance.
- The symbolic horse: heritage and cultural uses.
- The ecological horse: sustainable urban management and mobility.
- The social horse: mediation, inclusion and emotional well-being in dense areas.
3. Limits and Caution
The horse will never replace machines entirely. The risk lies in turning it into a “green marketing tool” without genuine purpose. Its presence in cities must be founded on clear, realistic and measurable objectives.
VI. Conclusion: A Reimagined Horse for the City
The horse is not truly forgotten; it has simply been excluded from the modern urban model. Yet today, it is returning in new forms, at the crossroads of ecological, social and cultural renewal. For this revival to last, it must rely on clear regulation, appropriate infrastructure and long-term political will The horse’s comeback is not a step backward but a reconciliation between nature and urban life. As a symbol of calm, respect and connection, the horse may once again become, in a new way, a true actor of tomorrow’s city.
