They're hardly used for the farmwork anymore, they're used as pulling horses for competitions. Some beer brewery have them as mascots. They're ridden alot and are used as family horses. They pull wagons and carriages.
Back then, horses were the machinery of today-they plowed and hauled and caried us to new places. Now-a-days, most of the plowing, hauling and traveling are done by machines, but some people still...
By equipment I assume you mean tack. The halter is used to lead, lounge or tie your horse. The bridle is a headstall, bit and reins and this helps the rider direct the horse where he wants the horse...