Horses

Within a large group of mammals, the horse is one of the animals that stands out for its elegance, its bearing and for that feeling of freedom that makes you live when it has you on top. That is why many feel a true passion for horses.

But what do you know about them? In this section you will find all the information you need to know about horses, not only of a general nature, but also about the types of horse, their reproduction, feeding, behavior...

The characteristics of the horses

Horses, scientifically named Equus ferus caballusThey are animals with a large size. They can measure up to 2 meters, from the cross to the ground (its height) and weigh between 390 and 1000 kilos.

They are characterized by having a long neck from which fur or bristles come out. This ends in pointed ears and an elongated forward face where what attracts the most attention is its muzzle and mouth.

They are very fast and strong animals. Despite their size and weight, they are flexible and light, capable of supporting great weights. And it is that his corpulence is based above all on his bones, which he has 205 (34 of them in the skull) and the rest divided throughout his body, including the tail; and in the musculature they develop.

The legs of the horses are almost the same in size all of them, although the rear ones are somewhat more developed because they generate the jump, they are the first to support movement, etc.; while the front ones are the ones that deal with receiving the weight on the ground. Each one ends in a single finger, hence it is considered a guligrade.

As for his head, it must be taken into account that Horse eyes are the largest of land animals. They have an almost complete visual field, since they can see more than 350º. Of course, it is dichromatic, that is, it distinguishes two colors.

Another of the senses that it has very well developed is hearing, since the ears can move at 180º angles and listen at great distances. The same goes for smell.

A curiosity about horses is that they are usually "sybarites". And it is that, because they are able to distinguish flavors They may have a predilection for certain foods and put aside others that they do not like so much.

How is his behavior?

The horse is a noble animal. Once you establish a relationship with a person, or with another horse, they get along well and there will be no problems between them. In general, they are calm animals that accept living with other animals and tolerate humans. They are also somewhat "cowards", since, when they are threatened or in danger they do not hesitate to flee the place, even leaving other animals with which they live.

However, they can also put up a fight, especially in some situations such as to protect their young, or who they consider they should care for.

Depending on the breed of horse, their demeanor is calmer or more energetic, but both are curious and intelligent. In fact, it's easy to teach him tricks and know what you want from him with basic training. It will depend on his personality whether he accepts orders or rebels against them.

The origin of the horse

The horse as you know it now, the domestic one, is nothing more than a subspecies of the wild horse itself. But this, in turn, evolved, according to the analyzes carried out, from a hoofed mammal, of the genus Hyracotherium. It was about a animal that resembled a large fox.

In prehistoric times men knew wild horses, and even represented them in cave paintings. And it is thought that, initially, men attacked them to eat them. However, little by little that habit was changing to start being used.

In fact, it is estimated that It was from 4000 BC when they could begin to domesticate due to the benefits they had: being able to carry loads, travel long distances, etc.

types of horses

Horses are part of the Equidae family. This is divided into three large groups:

• Zebras, which are native to Africa.
• Asses.
• Horses. Currently, there are 86 different breeds.

The Horses can be grouped in many different ways. And it is that, broadly speaking, we could distinguish between:

• Wild horses. Those that live freely and that are found above all in areas of deserts, grasslands, savannahs..., far from the area where human beings reside. In this case, the only breed that currently follows is the Przewalski horse.
• Domesticated horses. Those who live with the human being and have allowed themselves to be tamed by them. In this case, they are present in almost all parts of the world, unlike the previous ones.

However, there are Other ways to classify them For example, according to his temperament, where you find:

• Cold blooded horses. They are considered the calmest.
• Warm-blooded horses. They are not as tame as the previous ones, but they are not nervous or have a more volatile temperament.
• Warm blooded horses. They are called "purebred", and are characterized by being very brave and needing a firm hand to control them.

Where can we find horses?

Horses can be found on every continent in the world except Antarctica. Now, if we refer to wild horses, they are located in the areas of Asia and Africa, specifically in grasslands, deserts and savannahs.

Having a horse as a pet, is it possible?

Due to the large wingspan a horse has, they require space that is not easy to come by. Thus, horses are not animals that can be kept in houses or flatsThey need a stable and a place where they can run and burn the energy they have.

For this reason, although they can be considered pets, it is not easy to keep them as such, due to the fact that the facilities they require, as well as food, maintenance, exercise, etc. it can be quite expensive for anyone.

Many times horses are associated with "wealthy" people, that is, those who can afford a high monthly expense for having an animal of these characteristics.