Horses between the wars

[Pat Holscher]

United States Geological Survey pack string, Utah, 1936:

http://libraryphoto.cr.usgs.gov/cgi-bin ... IZE=medium

and 1937:

http://libraryphoto.cr.usgs.gov/cgi-bin ... IZE=medium

You know, in looking through the USGS photos I've posted here in the last couple of days I'm not only reminded, but stunned, by the close connection with horses and mules that existed prior to 1945.

I should be so surprised, but I really am. Some of the jobs depicted I've done, and never in a million years would I have thought that my predecessors in occupation used horses the way they obviously did. That should have occurred to me, but didn't.

I suppose that for those of us who like horses, there's a big of nostalgic sadness connected with that monumental change. For those who do not, the change is probably an enormous relief.

[Pat Holscher]

French family, in town, with their horse, Normandy. 1944.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/photosnorm ... otostream/