Horse-riding

Horses were likely the first “vehicle” humans used to travel faster and farther, but when exactly did we start riding them? Scientists have now found archeological evidence that suggests horseback riding started some 5,000 years ago.

When learning to ride horses, equestrians have to become proficient in relaying cues to the animal via subtle changes in their riding posture. And while the horse can't tell them if they're doing so correctly, a new "smart" saddle possibly could.

Scientists have traced the origins of the ambling horse back to medieval England, where the knights' penchant for the pleasant four-rhythm saunter and the selective breeding that followed instigated the global spread of the gaited horse. ​​

A project taking place at the University of Pennsylvania is looking to revolutionize how CT scans of large animals are taken, using two robotic arms that move around the horse while it’s upright and conscious.