Intro to Horses Flashcards
Evolution of the Horse
Eohippus “dawn horse” (prehistoric)
* Earliest known ancestor of modern horse
* 15” at withers
* 4 padded toes in front and 3 behind
* Browser; change in teeth
Domestication of the Horse
Domesticated in Near East (Western Asia - around Egypt)
Food animal
Work
Number of Horses
Estimated 58 million across the world
US History of the Horse
Early 1500’s
Horses brought to US by Spanish conquistadors
Uses:
* Travel
* Field work
* War mounts
* Mining
* Pony express
* Sport
US Horse Industry: Leading States
Leading States in number of horses
TX, CA, FL, OK, KY
WI ~ 14th
WI Horse Industry
Wisconsin NASS
Primary uses:
* Pleasure, trail riding, breeding, showing
* < 10% Work
Horses have a huge economic impact!!
Young female horse
Filly
Young male horse
Colt
Mature female
Mare
Mature intact male
Stallion
Mature castrated male
Gelding
Young horse of unknown gender
Foal
Measuring height
Measure at withers
“Hands”
* 1 hand = 4 inches
* Ex. 60 inches tall = 15 hands
Draft Horses
Used for work
1500 - 2000 lbs
Large wide, muscular
War horses, hauling commodities, farm tillage
Light Horses
Sport, Warmbloods
Smaller, less muscular
Riding, driving, livestock handling
800 - 1500? lbs