We got another horse vs. bicycles for the post apocalypse folks (old.reddit.com)

submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by 7bicycles@hexbear.net to c/urbanism@hexbear.net

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The discussion is an enduring internet classic of people who have seen horses in The Last of Us ascribing near magical powers to it vs. everyone who ever worked with horses saying this is the worst idea imaginable which is fun.

I'm posting this here on account of the amusing amount of comments that presuposse a horse is a car that runs on dirt and just self heals broken bones

EDIT: Bonus points for "a horse can carry so much more" which is demonstably untrue unless you want the poor thing to die real early or strap a cart to it, at which point you have both horse and bicycle problems

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[-] jack@hexbear.net 11 points 1 week ago

Eating grass is pretty useful

[-] Frivolous_Beatnik@hexbear.net 21 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

It is, though horses, especially those doing regular strenuous or heavy labor, usually require more nutrition to supplement pasture/grazing. It takes a lot of effort to keep giant high-anxiety beasts with temperamental stomachs healthy and happy!

E: Plus you gotta maintain the grazing area, since horses are liable to get sick from any number of plants, mushrooms, insects, or other unsavory things they may accidentally munch on.

[-] Keld@hexbear.net 8 points 1 week ago

Plus you gotta maintain the grazing area, since horses are liable to get sick from any number of plants, mushrooms, insects, or other unsavory things they may accidentally munch on.

This just cannot be a necessity. "Take your hundreds of horses to a new place when the old place ran out of grass" was a valid strategy for several cultures for millenia.

[-] Frivolous_Beatnik@hexbear.net 8 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Depends on how much you care about individual horses. If you have herds, you can lose some to sickness (or have them be inactive while being treated/recovering). If you're caring for individuals for transportation, you should pay attention to their wellbeing

Plus! The lands are polluted to hell, filled with garbage, potential biohazardous materials, sharp or physically dangerous refuse

E: Also important to consider - many people who wish to own horses don't live in areas naturally suited to the horse's ecological niche, not even considering environmental changes in the modern era. Huge ranges for roaming herds in grasslands aren't ubiquitous - and much farm and pastureland isn't naturally occurring, rather it is clear cut and maintained as such, hence why there may be flora/fauna detrimental to their health.