🐾 Horse

Horse

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Who it is

• Scientific name: Equus caballus
• Family & relatives: A member of the horse family Equidae, related to zebras, wild asses, and the donkey.
• How to spot it: A large, graceful farm animal with a long flowing mane and tail, tall legs, and a single hard hoof on each foot.

Its body & abilities

• Size: Most horses stand about 1.4 to 1.8 m tall at the shoulder.
• Weight: Usually about 380 to 900 kg (840 to 2,000 lb), depending on the breed.
• Body & adaptations: It walks on one big toe tipped with a tough hoof, and its long legs and strong muscles are built for running.
• Top speed: A galloping horse can reach about 45 to 55 km/h (28 to 34 mph).
• Strength: Very strong, a horse can pull heavy carts and carry a rider for many miles.
• Senses: It has large eyes on the sides of its head for wide vision, plus sharp hearing and a good sense of smell.
• Growing up: A baby horse, called a foal, can stand and walk within hours of being born and grows up in about three to four years.

Where it lives

• Habitat: Farms, pastures, ranches, and stables where people care for them.
• Where in the world: Found all over the world wherever people keep horses.
• Territory: Domestic horses live in fenced fields and stables and follow the routines of their farm.

What it eats

• Diet: A gentle plant-eater that grazes on grass and hay and needs plenty of fresh water every day.
• Favorite foods: Mostly grass and hay, plus oats, grains, and treats like apples and carrots.
• How it hunts: Horses do not hunt; they spend much of the day grazing, nibbling grass a little at a time.

How it behaves

• How it moves: It moves in four smooth ways: the walk, the trot, the canter, and the fast gallop.
• When it is active: Active by day and often at dusk, resting and dozing in short naps, sometimes while standing up.
• Family life: Very social herd animals that like company and feel happiest with other horses or farm friends.
• How it talks: It talks with whinnies, nickers, and snorts, and shows its mood by moving its ears, tail, and body.
• Babies: After about eleven months a mare gives birth to a single foal, which she feeds and protects with great care.

Its place in nature

• Role in nature: For thousands of years horses have helped people travel, farm, and work, and today they are beloved companions.
• Conservation: Domestic horses are common and well cared for around the world.
• Dangers: With good food, a clean home, and a caring vet, most horses live long, healthy lives.

Life & legacy

• How long it lives: Usually about 25 to 30 years, and some live even longer.
• In our culture: A symbol of freedom and friendship, horses appear in stories, art, and games all over the world.
• Where to see it: Farms, riding stables, ranches, petting zoos, and country fairs.
• Fun fact: Horses can sleep both lying down and standing up, thanks to special locking legs that hold them steady.