Horse

Horses are a group of animals of the family Equidae. They are herbivores, which means they eat grass and other plants. Some plants are dangerous for them, like ragwort, lemongrass (oil grass) and sometimes acorns.

The standard horse is the species Equus caballus. It was domesticated from wild horses by humans at least 5000 years ago. They are large, strong animals and some breeds are used to pull heavy loads. Racehorses can gallop up to 30 miles an hour.

A male horse is a stallion, and a female horse is a mare, while the general term for a young horse is a foal. A young female horse is a filly, and a young male horse is a colt. A castrated horse is a gelding. Horses have hooves which sometimes have protection called horseshoes from hard or rough ground.

Horses are related to the rhino and tapir in the order Perissodactyla.

 Early horses 

The evolution of horses has been well studied. Fifty million years ago, there were no horses as we know them now. Of the earliest fossil horse, the North American one is called Eohippus, and the Eurasian one is called Hyracotherium. Both were small animals: Eohippus was the larger of the two at twice the size of a terrier dog.

Many changes occurred between those little animals and today's horses. These changes are best explained as adaptations. To its changing ecological niche, from a small forest-dweller eating nuts and fruit to a more significant forest browser eating leaves and small branches. Finally, the modern horse is a grazer on open grassland, with different teeth, legs for running, and a much larger size. Significant changes happened in the mid-Miocene when the climate cooled and grassland replaced forests. This change continued, and several groups of mammals changed from browsers to grazers.

 Horses and humans 
Horses have been domesticated for at least 5000 years. Humans have used them in many different ways for travel, work, food, pleasure and show.  Domestic horses typically live between 25 and 30 years, although some may live longer.

Cavalry horses were used in war until the mid-20th century. They are used for riding and transport. They are also used for carrying things, pulling carts, or helping plough farmers' fields in agriculture. People have used selective breeding to make more giant horses do heavy work.

Some people keep horses as pets. Today, horses are mainly used for entertainment and sports. They are also still used for work and transportation in some places. Horses are used in equestrianism, and equine sports such as cross-country, show jumping, and other events. Show jumping, cross-country, and dressage are Olympic sports.  is the old Latin word for horse.

 Other uses of horses 
As friends (see above section). Horses have also been used as therapy animals for people with mental health issues and physical problems.  

Horsehide is a rugged leather made from the skin of horses. Horsehair is used to create a stiff fabric. Horsehair can also be used as a stuffing for furniture and stringed musical instruments. Horsehair can be mixed with plaster to make it strong. People can use horse bones to make gelatin for food. People can also use the hooves to make animal glue. Animal glue is still preferred by some woodworkers.

Horses are used all over the world to carry people and pull carts. Big cities use them to help police watch and protect people in crowds.

 Mare 

A mare is a female horse. Other female equines are also sometimes called mares. Before the mare's third birthday, the mare is called a filly. A mare for breeding is called a broodmare. When a mare wants to mate, the mare is called in heat. This part of the oestrous cycle lasts about three weeks.

Mares are more prone to being temperamental. Some people would call this being "mare-ish". The leader of a pack of horses (called a herd) is usually a mare.

 Horse colors 
Horse colors have specific names.

 Chesnut: Chesnut horses have a reddish-brown coat, and a light mane (long hair along the neck) and tail.
 Black: Black horses are fully black. For example, Friesian horses are always black.
 Cream: A specific gene gives horses a pale yellow, or cream color.
 Bay: Bay horses are brown with black points (legs, mane and tail). Very dark bay horses might look black, but the hair around their eyes is lighter than true black horses' hair.
 Sorrel: Sorrel horses are brown with yellow points.
 Grey or gray: Grey horses look white, but they are called "grey" because their skin is black. They have white hair mixed with few dark hairs. Most grey horses are born dark, but they get white hair as they age.
 White: True white horses have pink skin. They are born white. Many are white because of "White Dominant" genes. Some die very young because of a "Lethal white" gene.
 Pinto: Pinto horses are spotted.

There are many more coat colors.

 Horse breeds 

These are some well-known horse breeds among the hundreds that exist:

 Related pages 
 Equestrianism – sports with horses
 Horse racing
 Pony – for little horses
 Przewalski's horse
 Donkey
 Mule
 Zebra
 Quagga – an extinct subspecies of the zebra

 References 


Category:Animals used for transport
Category:National symbols of San Marino
Category:Basic English 850 words