Horse

Horse Known for their endurance power and running prower, horse are men’s best friends from prehistoric times. In this post, we will highlight

• What is a horse?
• The history of horses and their evolution
• Its species
• The connection with humans
• Food
• Their lifespan

How will you define a horse?

A horse is a hoofed animal known for its strength and stamina. They have roamed on this planet for almost 50 million years. You can trace them in different continents, and they are so widespread that it seems that they have evolved with us. There are some mysteries around the modern origin of the horse and when they were first domesticated.

Why were the horse of domesticated?

Before the invention of steam trains and automobiles, humans used horses to travel long distances at a fairly high speed. They played an essential part during war and hunting too.

History of the horse

Many historians believe that horses originated in North America 50 million years ago. Their size was similar to the size of the dogs, and they lived in the forests. Their size gradually increased as they adapted to the changing environment. Slowly and steadily, these horses spread across various continents, including Asia, Europe, and then to the rest of the world through the Bering Land Bridge that once connected Alaska to Siberia.

However, the history of the horse is shrouded by mysteries, and some experts believe that horses were first traced in Africa.

Evolution of horse

The modern horse resembles Hyracotherium or Eohippus, who lived in marshy forests with soft vegetation. Due to deforestation and climatic changes, there was a decline in species.

As a result, they had to shift themselves to land and hard grass.

• Their teeth became harder, longer and stronger to chew grass.
• Their neck became longer to trace the enemies and
• There was a drastic modification in their legs too.

They evolved to be agile, fast-running animals on the ground.

Different species of horses

Horses are categorized into five main categories as listed below

Ponies – Ponies are smaller horses, or their height is low compared to horses. You can easily find out the difference between them. Ponies tend to be more poised and stoic than larger horses. They are incredibly strong and can do all the activities that horses are meant to do, like carrying loads, pulling wagons, etc.

Draft Horses – It is a large muscular horse used by the farmers for manual labour. They are sometimes called workhorses because of their size, strength and large hooves. They can easily pull heavy loads and were once used by farmers and military officers.

Gaited horses – Gaited horses are a distinctive breed of horse that moves each leg independently. It helps them conserve energy when trotting. They were used for long-distance travelling because they had greater stamina and endurance.

Light horses – These horses are small, although not so small to be called ponies. These horses are known for their high strength and agility. They are excellent for riding and herding.

Warmblood – Popularly known as sporting horses, they are known for their calm temperament and intelligence. Most people use this horse in competitions because of the athletic prowess they are enabled with.

What kind of food do they eat?

Horses have sensitive digestive systems, and their need for food is specific. They are herbivores and consume a high-fibre diet. Rather than having a few large meals, they usually eat small meals throughout the day. They spend most of their time eating tender plants, pasture grass, hay, grains, concentrate mixes, etc. One should not include rice bran and wheat in their diet because it can cause mineral imbalance in their body.

Horse lifespan

Just like the evolution of medical technologies, humans live longer than ever. In a similar vein, thanks to better understanding and medical care, horses’ life spans have increased from 25 tears to 50 years. Their lifespan can be increased by

• Adding the right diet
• Taking care when they are in bad health conditions
• By taking them to the vet who can keep a tab on their dental health
• By taking care of their living arrangements
• All horses require physical activity. Take them to ride, and they require a green pasture to walk. You should not keep horses in a stable the whole day long.

And by pouring them with loads of love, this quote defines their temperament in a better way.

When your horse follows you without being asked, when he rubs his head on yours and when you look at him and tingle down your spine…you know you are loved. –  John Lyons

Horse companionship with humans

Give a horse what he needs and he will give you his heart in return. – Anonymous

 Humans domesticate horses for popular reasons like riding, travelling long distances, etc. But according to research, the horse can understand human language, and they have excellent memories. They can recall their human friends even after periods of separation. The horses can even understand human commands and execute it provided you speak with them politely.

Bottom Line

Horses are agile animals that have evolved from dogs to large creatures. The article throws limelight on different aspects of the horse-like its breed, food, etc. Please read it to know more about these tiny trots.