For many centuries animals were the main means of transport. They were the tractors on farms, the cavalry in armies, the taxis in towns and the long distance trucks on the roads. It is little wonder that languages have so many words to do with animal uses. Furthermore, many human trading and dealing practices still relate back to the age when there were many thousands of horses for sale.

The shrewd bargaining and jockeying for position that goes on before political or business decisions are made is referred to as 'horse trading'. The words are the only connection with actual animals, but the once bustling trade has enriched the English language.

At markets in the past buyers and sellers negotiated prices around the real or stated claims made concerning individual animals. Faults in animals not as easy to disguise as they are in motor vehicles. Where a second hand car can be spruced up considerably with paint, water and grooming, a weary old nag's age was hard to disguise. A canny buyer would not take the dealer's estimation of age at face value, but instead look at the length of its teeth to determine its age for himself. If the animal had been a gift and the recipient still looked into its mouth, he was being ungrateful, and rudely, 'looking a gift horse in the mouth'.

When animals had so many uses, buying and selling was a robust affair, involving a variety of actors. With the coming of the combustion engine many of these fell away. The market was reduced.

One market that has persisted to the present age is for thoroughbreds. There are still annual yearling sales, conducted by auctioneers in many countries. Keen buyers vie for steeds that will perform miracles on the race tracks. In rare cases, yearlings bought for a song go on to make millions through their racing deeds. However, because bloodlines and breeding histories are so thoroughly studied, the progeny of well known sires and dams tend to command very good prices.

In addition there are sales of ponies for other uses such as polo ponies, carriage horses, show jumpers, dressage mounts and three-day eventers. In fact, the long and noble history of the horse as a domesticated animal ensures that the demand has never fallen away completely, even when air and space travel began to occupy the attention of city dwellers. Young girls, in particular, never lost their interest, and kept markets alive

In fact recent developments have favoured the promotion of equestrian affairs. TV has popularised show jumping. Worldwide competitions attract huge audiences who enjoy the panache, and the combination of human and animal efforts on display in the sport. Financial investments become more attractive in the glare of the mass media.

Since 1991 the Internet has transformed the world and revitalized many old industries. There are now many horses for sale on the Internet. Detailed information is available on many websites. Interested buyers are able to access more reliable information than ever before, and sellers can find buyers in the once again lucrative trade.