According to Animal Planet, the horse is the 4^th most beloved animal. Why do we find it so special? The elegance in its walk, the dignity with which it holds its head, and the evident emotion and intelligence in its eyes are among some of the qualities that cause us to admire horses. Other impressive characteristics are its strength and agility.

Simply imagine a horse on a hilltop, the wind blowing through its mane, and you can't help but be impressed by this noble animal. And now imagine yourself on the horse's back, the harmony of motion between you and your mount, and your feeling of invincibility.

Since humans are so competitive, it seems only natural that we would begin racing horses to see which horse and rider truly reigned supreme.

The earliest information we have about horse racing tells us that there were competitions in Asia about 6000 years ago. Horse racing easily spread from Asia to Europe, and then a short time later, it spread further from Spain to America.

There are several types of horse racing which are categorized in two main ways. Is the jockey riding, or sitting in a cart which the horse pulls? And is the horse simply running, or is it also jumping obstacles?

Probably the most popular type of horse racing is what is known as thoroughbred racing. There are two categories of this type: flat and jump.

A rarer form of horse racing is harness racing. It’s much harder for the horse because it has to pull not only the jockey, but also the cart where the jockey is sitting.

Maybe the most interesting type of horse race is the steeplechase. In this race there are many obstacles such as barriers, walls, and water jumps.

In the past, only the powerful and wealthy could enjoy owning, and therefore, racing horses. But thanks to technology, that is no longer the case. By using the internet, anyone can participate in this sport.

There are online games involving horse racing and riding. One of my favorite sites for such horse games is www.funhorsegames.net These games give a similar feeling of unity which a real rider and horse experience since you, the "rider," must still be the one to make decisions on where the horse should go, when to jump, or how fast to race.

Given humanity's love for horses and thirst for competition, I'm sure you will enjoy playing online horse racing games. May the best horse and rider win!