Horses (Equus caballus) have had a close relationship with humans for centuries, ever since Asian nomads domesticated them 4,000 years ago. They’ve been mainly trained as a mode of transportation, but also as work horses to help with agriculture. Only one species of horse is actually domesticated, but there are over 400 different breeds of it. Most horses are domestic, but there are some that are wild. Wild horses run in groups of three to 20. There is one stallion (mature male) that leads the group and many mares (females) and young foals that follow. However, when a young male horse gets to be about two years of age, the stallion drives it away. Then, the young male runs with others of its kind until it finds its own group of females to run with.
Horses weigh anywhere between 120 and 2,200 pounds, and reach a height of 6 feet. All horses are herbivores and graze for food. Both their senses of hearing and smell are quite good, and they are sensitive to the feelings of other animals. They can particularly sense when something is hesitant, fearful, or angry.
After horses mate, a mare will be pregnant for about 300 days or ten months. Once the foal is born, though, it can usually stand within four to six hours, sometimes within one.
Fun Horse Facts
- The world’s largest horse stands 6 feet 6 inches high, while the smallest is only 17.5 inches.
- When a horse’s ears are alert and forward, it means they are happy or interested.
References
Equine World UK
National Geographic
World Amazing Information
Click here to go back to Animal Facts and Information.
