<  The horse evolved 

"About the Animal Health Foundation

   January,28 2010

        Horses (Equus caballus) are one of the eight species in the family Equidae. They are hooved mammals that have evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years. Millions of years ago, horses used to be small, multi-toed creatures. Now, they are large, single-toed animals. Horses were first domesticated by humans around 4500 BC. By 2000 BC, domesticated horses were used throughout Eurasia (Europe and Asia). Today, most horses are domesticated, but there are still endangered populations of the only true wild horse, Przewalski's Horse. There are also more common feral horses which live in the wild, but they are descended from domesticated ancestors.

Some facts about horses:

• Female horses (who are 4 years and/or older) are called mares.
• Young horses (horses less than 1 year old) are called foals.
• Male horses (who are 4 years and/or older) are called stallions. (For more information of what horses are called, click here.)

• Horses have an average lifespan of 25-30 years. 

• Horses reach [full] adult development by age 5.

• Horse breeds are loosely divided into 3 categories based on general temperament; "hot bloods", "cold bloods", and "warm bloods" (scroll down for more info)
• Today, there are over 300 breeds of horses.
• Horses interact with humans in many ways, including sports competitions, police work, entertainment, and more.
• An ancestor of horses is the Hyracotherium, an animal with 4 toes on each front foot and 3 toes on each back foot. The Hyracotherium lived about 45-55 million years ago during the Eocene period. Another ancestor of horses is the Mesohippus, which lived 32-37 million years ago. The Mesohippus did not have the extra toe on the front feet. By about 5 million years ago, the modern Equus had developed. The extra side toe gradually shrank until it was altogether gone. 

                                                     Horse Categories 

"Hot Bloods"- spirited horses with speed and endurance (ex. Arabian horse, Barb horse, Akhal-Teke)

"Cold Bloods"- horses suitable for slow, heavy work (ex. ponies, Belgian horse, Clydesdale horse)

"Warm Bloods"- horses developed from crosses of hot bloods and cold bloods (ex. Trakehner, Hanoverian)

Horses are grazing animals, and their major source of nutrients is good-quality forage from hay or pasture.They can consume approximately 2% to 2.5% of their body weight in dry feed each day. Therefore, a 450-kilogram (990 lb) adult horse could eat up to 11 kilograms (24 lb) of food. Sometimes, concentrated feed such as grain is fed in addition to pasture or hay, especially when the animal is very active.When grain is fed, equine nutritionists recommend that 50% or more of the animal's diet by weight should still be forage.

Horses require a plentiful supply of clean water, a minimum of 10 US gallons (38 L) to 12 US gallons (45 L) per day. Although horses are adapted to live outside, they require shelter from the wind and precipitation, which can range from a simple shed or shelter to an elaborate stable.

Horses require routine hoof care from a farrier, as well as vaccination to protect against various diseases, and dental examinations from a veterinarian or a specialized equine dentist. If horses are kept inside in a barn, they require regular daily exercise for their physical health and mental well-being. When turned outside, they require well-maintained, sturdy fences to be safely contained. Regular grooming is also helpful to help the horse maintain good health of the hair coat and underlying skin.

VIDEOS: 

Here are some more pictures of horses: