In the 1800s, horses were used for just about everything. Horses were ridden into battle and war with soldiers atop them; they were used for transportation, farm and yard work, sports, and hunting. Basically, horses were used for everything at this time because the technology was minimal, and horses were simple and readily available. Horses were often used to pull a buggy or wagons behind them with passengers inside. Before the car, a horse was the most useful form of transportation.