A horse is a quadruped animal belonging to the mammalian species of the ungulate type, this is due to the fact that at the end of the legs they have hooves. It is also found in the perissodactyl branch, which means that they have an odd number of fingers, and is part of the equidae family, which are characterized by having high-crowned teeth, ideal for eating grass, they also have one finger. unique in each leg and two rudimentary toes located on each side covered with helmet. The female is called the mare, and the young foals.
What is a horse
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The concept of horse indicates that it is a four-legged mammal, which belongs to the equine family, is anatomically characterized by its size, which has an estimated average of 2.4 meters in height, the legs on the other hand, They end in a single finger and at the end of which it has a nail known as a “helmet”, the shape of its head is also particular, an elongated style, the ears are relatively small in proportion to its body, it has a long tail and in the neck region it presents what is known as crin (hair that grows on the neck of some animals).
According to the concept of horse, depending on the breed its size can vary considerably, however, the nutrition of each animal also has an important contribution to its growth. Likewise, the horses can be of different colors or layers as it is commonly called, the most frequent to see are the chestnut, apalusa, albino, mulatto, Palomino, Roman, gray, chestnut, Pia, bay and white coat.
When analyzing the concept of horse, it is important to highlight that its diet is based on plants such as grass or hay, but also some fruits and vegetables such as apples and carrots may be included in its food group. These equines are very sociable and easy to train, their care is simple as well as their diet, they are generally herbivores, since their main diet is based on grass, hay and straw, they also eat grains, fruits and vegetables such as apple, avocado and alfalfa.
Throughout history the horse and man have been related, whether in battles, as a work animal, pet or in sport, which has given it a special place within humans, for all that there is who appreciate this animal as a symbol, being the meaning of horse in this sense synonymous with nobility and strength.
What is the scientific name of the horse
The definition of horse in scientific terms is " equus ferus caballus ", being a denomination that originates from the Latin word "equus" in that way it was how they were originally called, for its part the word "caballus" came from late Latin (of Celtic origin) which ended up giving rise to the current word "horse", translated into Spanish, the meaning of "caballus" is "gelding."
The female, for her part, is known as a mare, a name that comes from the feminine word "equus" which would come to be "equa". Finally, the young of these are known as foals or foals, whose origin is from the Latin "pullus" whose translation is "chicken", a name used by the Romans for all young animals, over time this term would derive in "pulliter", the name by which the breeding of these mammals are specifically named, until the definition of horse that is known today is reached.
The best breeds of horses in the world
According to experts, the best horse breeds are:
Andalusian horse
Breed of Spanish origin, specifically from the region of Andalusia, this is a baroque-type equine, and whose breed is among the oldest in world history. Within the Spanish territory the Andalusian is known as "Spanish horse" and is officially known as Pura Raza Española or PRE, since it is considered the Spanish horse par excellence, this despite the existence of other breeds of horses in Spain. On the other hand, one of the breeding lines of this breed is the Carthusian.
Arabian Horse
It is an animal with great intelligence, with great resistance and a tough character, it has a particular head and its tail is always high, this breed is one of the most recognized worldwide. According to experts, Arabian horses were originally from desert climates, and were of great value to Bedouin nomads, who used to go into their tents to protect them from the weather or any other potential danger.
Pure blood
The thoroughbred is a breed of English origin, which was created in England during the thirteenth century, by crossing English mares with Arabian stallions, Akhal take and Berbers, all imported. The purpose of these crosses was to obtain animals that could run long distances, which is why it is bred to walk at a gallop and with a saddle. Within the thoroughbred breed there are variations in size, appearance and structure.
Those who acquire these animals in order to use them in races take into account the confirmation of the same, as well as the pedigree and the performance in the careers of their parents and other ancestors, which can be seen reflected in the sales catalog Another aspect that is taken into account before buying a thoroughbred horse is its health history.
Miniature horse
It is important to clarify that despite their size the miniatures are not the same as ponies, since on the contrary they present a large number of differences, both in size, as well as in the shape of their body and limbs. In the case of ponies, their height can vary from 110 cm to 148 cm and their body is quite robust, the head is quite large and the legs are shorter in proportion to the body. Therefore, it is necessary to clarify the meaning of a miniature horse and that of a pony horse.
Pony horse
The pony is an animal that has a maximum height of 1.5 meters up to the withers, it is characterized by having great resistance, it has a straight profile, its ears are triangular in shape unlike larger equines that have them inwards, its average weight is about 100kg. The pony horse breeds that have greater purity can maintain traits of primitive horses, such as their mealy snout, stripes on their legs and snouts, very dense and semi-raised manes, in addition to their strong character, which makes them large equines despite their small size.
Horse anatomy
Most of these equines have approximately 175 bones, a pair of blind spots (one in the back and one just in front in the front) however, they have the ability to see in two directions simultaneously. On the other hand, regarding the teeth, it should be clarified that mares have 36 teeth, while the male has 49.
The process of respiration in these animals is carried out solely through the nose. In terms of weight, a well-developed adult equine can weigh more than 1,000 pounds and contain 13.2 liters of blood. They generally consume more than 10 liters of water a day and the internal temperature ranges between 100 ℉ and 101 ℉, they also have the ability to rotate the ears almost 360 degrees.
That horses eat
They are herbivores, therefore their diet is based on plants and varied vegetation, their food intake is quite low in proportion to their size, since their stomach is small. In order to get their food they use their large teeth, which are used both for grinding and for pulling. The feeding of horses in the cases of being domesticated, are hay, grass and concentrate, the latter being a concentrate of oats, barley or corn.
The evolution of the horse
The most primitive ancestor of this mammal is the Eohippus, a small herbivorous animal that was present on the planet during the Eocene, more than 50 million years ago, in the northern region of America. According to research, all equines are descendants of this animal, including those of the genus Equis. The Eohippus was small in size, it had 3 toes on the hind legs and 4 on the front, the teeth were low-crowned, at first glance it could be mistaken for a dog, however thanks to evolution, it increased its height and lost fingers until they become monodactyl and later develop helmets, which would allow them to flee from their predators.
Where horses live
The habitat of the horse in the wild, is generally characterized by having large spaces, such as forests and meadows, however, for the most part, they are domesticated with the aim of being used by man, either to move people, loads and others, or also to help in various tasks such as agriculture, another quite common use is in sports such as horse riding, polo, etc.
Main characteristics of the horse
They are animals with a large bearing, they have an elongated neck where the mane is located, the head is also long and the ears are always erect, and the tail is also elongated. Regarding the height, there are species that can measure more than 185 cm from their legs to the withers, however it depends on the species. For its part, the weight varies according to the breed and ranges from 390 to 1000 kilos. It is important to note that, when the horse's habitat is modified, it has the ability to adapt.
Sporting use of horses
Today, horses are mostly used for sports, as their conditions allow it. Equestrian sports are the most practiced, such is the case of polo, jumping, dressage, charrería, raid, rodeo, coleo, among others.
How many years can a horse live
On average horses can live between 25 and 40 years, it is even possible to find certain cases in which it is possible to ride them after the age of 20, this for domesticated horses, however for wild ones the average life span is lower, hovering 25 years of age, however, this may also be related to the feeding of horses, since in domestication, it is possible that they are provided with greater nutrients.
