Since time began, horses have been used by humans to facilitate their needs. From drawing wagons and ploughs to providing transport and entertainment, horses have proved their worth in many ways. The brumbies and mustangs provided a challenge to those who wished to tame and possess them. In Canada, the wild mustangs that raced across the prairies helped to feed an nation. The horse has long been a symbol of teamwork and inspiration. At Spruce Meadows, ‘The Home of the Classics’, in Canada, four horses ‘whose victories are a tribute to Canada’s long-standing equestrian traditions’ have had their images unveiled on
postage stamps. Through the creation of these
stamps, the horses were both recognized and honoured as examples of perfection which continue to shape and build the nation. Their trait – excellence – defines traditions which will undoubtedly continue in the future. Gratitude to Canada Post for displaying the images and choosing an equestrian theme in 1999 signified an acceptance and accolades for the elements of history which is represented in dressage in Canadian horse history.
Japan chose race-horses to acknowledge the significance of this sport. In 2004, the Japan Racing Association celebrated its 50th anniversary. This association has contributed to developments in breeding and advanced horse-racing as a solid, wholesome entertainment for the citizens of Japan. The first stamp depicts Ten Point and Tosho Boy, which finished first and second in the Arima Kinen Grand Prix in 1997, running at full speed around the fourth corner of the track. Narita Brian, a popular and powerful horse, and winner of the 61st Japanese Derby in 1994 is shown on the second
stamp just as he crosses the finish line.
In a significant gesture to its society, the United States Postal Service unveiled the ‘Year of the Horse’
postage stamp to celebrate the Lunar New Year. As American society has become more multi-cultural, it allows Chinese and Asian Pacific Americans to celebrate their own cultures and traditions. The first annual Lunar New Year postage stamp was released in 1992 and the Horse is the tenth in a series of twelve.
Perhaps the most notorious image of a horse on a
postage stamp is that of the horse, Nordlicht. Nordlicht was, some believe, the horse of Adolf Hitler which raced the Nazi circuit in 1943 and 1944 and won the German and Austrian derbies. Undefeated, he was named ‘Horse of the Year’ in 1944 and had his image placed on a German
postage stamp.
In 1993, at the European Championship in Dressage Horsemanship, a motif of the Lippizaner horse was etched on a
postage stamp and released in July of the same year. Although the Lippizaners are born black, brown or mouse-coloured, the adult animals are white. It is only in motion that these horses’ beauty finds its true expression. They have a rhythmic gait, whether steered by a horseman, horse-breaker in an exhibition or harnessed in a team.
That the variety of breeds and activities of horses is revealed on
postage stamps shows the importance that horses have in the human world.
Please visit our online shop for a large
stamp collection to purchase.
