What is the real meaning of "hold your horses"?

This idea was brought up in class last week and I thought I would take the next step and provide a "technical" definition for this idiom of the English language.  Many website's, including Wikipedia, explain the term with the relation that "If someone tells you to hold your horses, you are doing something too fast and they would like you to slow down" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hold_your_horses).  A literal translation of the phrase means to keep your horses still with relation to riding a horse or with a horse and buggy. 

The term's origins seem to be from 19th century America where it was commonly written as "hold your hosses", where "hosses" is a slang word for horse or the way horses was interpreted with an American accent. Whichever way the idiom was written or heard, today it basically means to be patient or slow down.  

So the next time you ask someone to "hold your horses" think about where the original meaning came from and don't be surprised if they hand you the reins!

Also check out this link for more information: http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/184400.html