Horse Facts & Information
Horses were domesticated around 4000 B.C.E., and by 3000 B.C.E., domestication became widespread. Today, the majority of horse species are domesticated, and the only true wild horse that remains is the Przewalski's horse.
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Height Measurement
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The unit for measuring the height of a horse is "hands," and one hand equals 4 inches. A mature horse under 14.2 hands (14 hands and 2 inches) is generally considered a pony.
Arabian Horse
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This flat-kneed, hot-blooded mammal originally lived in a desertlike environment. The height of Arabian horses is normally between 14.2 and 15 hands. These horses have manes that are composed of fine silky hair. They are still bred and found most commonly throughout the Middle East.
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Don Horse
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The don horse breed has been in existence since the 18th century. The don horse has a height of about 15.3 hands. They are really strong animals that can bear cold climates, normally living within northern Eurasia and Russia.
Thoroughbred
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This breed evolved in England during the 17th and 18th centuries as a cross between English mares and Arabian stallions. Thoroughbred horses are currently mostly used for racing, and normally live in temperate climates.
Early Years
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A horse under the age of 5 is known as a colt if male, and filly if female. "Foal" is a term that normally describes a newborn or very young horse.
A thoroughbred horse is considered 1 year old or a "yearling" on January 1--no matter when during the previous year it was actually born. The movements of 12-month-old horses still lack coordination and their legs are still long compared to the body, but this is the time in their life cycle where their body is beginning to fill out.
Middle and Late Years
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The middle years are the time period in a horse's life cycle when it is 5 to 10 years old and fully formed. After this are the late years, when circulation might be reduced and joints might become puffy, normally slowing horses down.
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References
- Photo Credit horse image by ann triling from Fotolia.com
