3 ms·

I’m sure it’s just because I’ve never owned one, but I have often thought horses were the first “self driving” vehicle, and could still have some features super

I’m sure it’s just because I’ve never owned one, but I have often thought horses were the first “self driving” vehicle, and could still have some features superior to automobiles. You can feed them hay, they occasional apple and sugar cube, and they are largely carbon neutral. Even producing natural fertilizer as a byproduct of combustion. Built in cruise control, obstacle avoidance, and voice control, and a limited ability to self navigate and self-park.

pjc50 7y ago
Cars took off because, among other things, they require considerably less maintenance (especially cleaning!) and are more reliable (horse illnesses can be a serious problem). While they are self-replicating, it takes human time to train a foal to usefulness, and bloodline maintenance can get complicated and expensive if you're after something more specific than just "a horse". The methane emissions aren't great for global warming either.
- CalRobert 7y ago
  Not just methane. The automobile had the advantage of removing millions of pounds of horse manure from city streets.
  - lucideer 7y ago
    Aside from the so-called "great horse manure crisis" story being somewhat vaguely sourced (horse manure was of value back then and was traded as such), even if it were true or at least becoming a growing problem, I feel this problem is likely overstated. If cars had not removed it, we would've solved this problem by other means. Human "manure" was also as big a problem: sewers were relatively recent and still being build, and toilets were a brand new invention. Yet we've largely solved this issue without getting rid of people from cities.
- deepnet 7y ago
  Seaweed is efficacious in cow digestion to lower methane emmissions. Perhaps it works in horses too ? https://www.dairyreporter.com/Article/2019/08/14/Could-Australian-seaweed-reduce-methane-from-cows https://www.dairyreporter.com/Article/2019/08/14/Could-Austr...

pjc50 7y ago

Cars took off because, among other things, they require considerably less maintenance (especially cleaning!) and are more reliable (horse illnesses can be a serious problem). While they are self-replicating, it takes human time to train a foal to usefulness, and bloodline maintenance can get complicated and expensive if you're after something more specific than just "a horse". The methane emissions aren't great for global warming either.

CalRobert 7y ago
Not just methane. The automobile had the advantage of removing millions of pounds of horse manure from city streets.
- lucideer 7y ago
  Aside from the so-called "great horse manure crisis" story being somewhat vaguely sourced (horse manure was of value back then and was traded as such), even if it were true or at least becoming a growing problem, I feel this problem is likely overstated. If cars had not removed it, we would've solved this problem by other means. Human "manure" was also as big a problem: sewers were relatively recent and still being build, and toilets were a brand new invention. Yet we've largely solved this issue without getting rid of people from cities.
deepnet 7y ago
Seaweed is efficacious in cow digestion to lower methane emmissions. Perhaps it works in horses too ? https://www.dairyreporter.com/Article/2019/08/14/Could-Australian-seaweed-reduce-methane-from-cows https://www.dairyreporter.com/Article/2019/08/14/Could-Austr...