Horses

The horse has lived and worked side by side with humans almost since the Stone Age. Therefore, it is difficult to imagine human civilization without this beautiful animal. Until relatively recently, just a couple of centuries ago, strong and unpretentious heavyweight horses pulled peasant plows across the fields, and their long-legged aristocratic counterparts carried counts, princes and kings on their thin, but no less strong backs.

A horse is not just a friend for a person. This is an integral part of human history and culture, the genetic memory of many generations. Many good books have been written about horses, they have been depicted in a huge number of brilliant paintings and in an equally huge number of magnificent films. The mane is one of the most striking and beautiful parts of a horse. Let's find out in more detail why it is needed?

Appearance and description

The appearance of the horse
The appearance of the horse

Appearance of the horse

A graceful animal with well-developed muscles and a strong constitution, it stands out among other representatives of the fauna for its slimness and plasticity. Horses belong to the class of herbivorous mammals, the order of equids.

Interesting fact : the horse's brain is quite small. Despite this, they are considered the smartest, intellectually developed animals, perfectly understanding humans and amenable to training.

The horse's muscular, round body is covered with short hair. The limbs are slender, strong and long. The oblong, elongated head is decorated with a lush mane. The tail consists of long hair. The color of horses depends on the breed. The most common ones are red, black, snow-white, and mousey. The color is uniform, but sometimes spots adorn the legs, head and body. As old age approaches, horses' manes and tails turn gray.

Frisian

Friesians cannot boast of their height (it varies from 160 to 170 cm), but they have incredibly luxurious manes, bushy tails and long brush-like hair on muscular legs.

These brushes cascade from the very hocks down to the very hooves - this is called freezing.

Nowadays all Friesians are black, but at the beginning of the 20th century many of them were bay, and in the Middle Ages they were also forelock.

In addition to their unusual beauty, these horses have a sociable and friendly character, and that is why they are often made into circus and film actors, harnessed to holiday carriages, and attracted to photo shoots.

Sports competitions also rarely take place without the participation of Frisians.

When the horse appeared

Drawing of Eohippus, the animal from which horses descended.
Based on long research and study of partial organic remains, scientists have come to the conclusion that the ancestors of horses have existed on Earth since the Eocene era. They lived in the tropics of North America and the forests where modern Western Europe is located.

The horse that lived 60 million years ago bears little resemblance to the stately and tall horse of today. The forest creature was no larger than an ordinary dog, had a curved back, and a very small head on a short neck. The remains were discovered in the middle of the 19th century, they were named Eohippus (the first horse). The animal's diet consisted of leaves and soft fruits.

During the Eocene and Oligocene periods, the animal increased its population and inhabited parts of America and Eurasia. The Miocene era brought with it changes in climate and, accordingly, in the structure of the ancient ancestors of the horse. The animal's height increased to 120 cm, its jaws became more powerful, and its head elongated.

About 4-4.5 million years ago, the species Equus appears, considered the ancestor of all species of donkeys, zebras and horses.

The need to protect hair

If a horse spends most of its time outdoors, its mane requires special attention due to the aggressive influence of the environment. To prevent the sun from drying your hair out, you can braid it. But we cannot exclude the fact that they can cling to nearby objects. Therefore, every day you need to check their condition, unravel them once a week and braid them again.

It would be a good idea to remove all sharp objects in places where the horse most often passes. If she lives with other representatives of her species, it is better to play it safe and regularly treat her neck with an aerosol that discourages those who want to gnaw other people's manes. This product consists of plants, but it is still better to study the instructions before using it for the first time. Some components cause allergies or general irritation.

You can make a similar aerosol yourself. To do this, you need cayenne pepper or regular hot sauce, which is diluted with plain water. To test the horse's individual reaction to such a product, it is applied to a small area of skin and left for several hours. If there are no negative reactions, you can safely use this aerosol.

What does it eat?

The main diet of a horse is grass.
Horses are herbivores. The basis of their diet is food of plant origin (grass, fruits, vegetables, leaves, roots, grains). They love to eat young stems, tree bark, seeds and nuts.

The feed for domestic horses must include: oats, corn, beets, carrots and apples. In the summer, horses graze on pastures, eating fresh grass and leaves, they receive the micro and macroelements necessary for full growth and development. With the onset of cold weather, hay replaces fresh vegetation.

Arabic

This is one of the oldest breeds, which became the basis of many modern animals. Due to their excellent decorative qualities, horses often participate in beauty parades. In addition, they listen well to the pilot and are happy to work together with him.

Arabian horses are characterized by an elongated body, a small head and short ears. In addition, the animals are distinguished by a high tail and weak muscles.

How long does he live?

The lifespan of horses depends on the breed, living conditions and main purpose. According to average statistical data, in domestic individuals this parameter ranges from 25 to 30 years.

Thoroughbred horses live longer than others: 30-35 years, heavy working horses - 10-25, participants in sports competitions - 18-20. And little ponies delight a person 37-39 years old.

Interesting fact : a horse named Old Billy is considered the record holder for the longest life expectancy among horses: 62 years. The longest-liver among sports horses is the thoroughbred stallion Prospect Point: 38 years.

Wild animals rarely survive to old age. An important role in this is played by the constant struggle for survival and climatic conditions. The life cycle of a wild horse is no more than 10-12 years.

Sense organs

The nervous activity of a horse is regulated by the brain, which is located in the cranium. By the appearance of the shape of the head, one can judge the type of nervous activity of the horse, temperament, disposition, character. The desired temperament depends on the economic use of the animal - racehorses need a lively disposition, and draft horses need a phlegmatic disposition.

Domestic horses are seriously inferior to wild ones in intelligence. But excessive “reasonableness” is only a hindrance to training. The horse is required to strictly follow the rider's commands, that is, they must develop conditioned reflexes to all kinds of stimuli.

Excessive mental activity will negatively affect the horse's sporting future.

The eyes of eastern (southern) horses are mobile, slightly protruding, while those of western horses are not very mobile, and the eyelid is massive and thick. When examining the eyes, changes in the pupil at different light levels, the nature of the surface of the cornea, and the presence of white spots on it are noted. Pay attention to the condition of the eyelids - the presence of bald spots, deposits or exudate on them indicates a pathological condition.

Deviations in the visual analyzer are common among horses (myopia, glaucoma, cataracts, periodic blindness). Due to poor eyesight, the horse's gait is impaired (it often stumbles, the forelimbs are raised high). The horse compensates for the loss of vision with other senses, primarily hearing. You can notice increased mobility of the shells, and with pathology of only one eye, an asymmetrical arrangement of the ears occurs.

The horse's sound analyzer is always on alert. This is an adaptive reaction that arose at an early stage of the formation of the species. The horse constantly listens to surrounding noises in order to identify danger in advance. Therefore, if you observe an animal, you can see how it constantly changes the direction of its ears. But if you make a sound (for example, start moving towards him), the ear will quickly turn towards you. In deaf animals (damage to the auditory canal, brain disease), the ears always stand straight and point their shells towards the eyes.

Due to the structure of the pharynx (velum palatine), horses cannot breathe through their mouths. Therefore, the quality of breathing is assessed through the nostrils. In racing horse breeds, the nostrils are usually wide with thin wings, while in heavy draft horses they are narrow and thick. An examination should determine the condition of the mucous membrane (the presence of discharge, redness, overlap, foreign bodies), the mobility of the wings of the nose, the quality of the exhaled stream (strength, smell).

Horse structure

The structure of a horse
The horse has a rather unusual structure, which helps it to be resilient and cover long distances with great speed.

The length of the animal's head is approximately 2/5 of the total height of the animal. The skull is elongated, with nostrils and a mouth at the end. Powerful jaws are hidden under the lips. A horse has 36 to 40 teeth. The animal's eyes are large and long eyelashes grow on the eyelids. At the top there are ears that can turn towards the source of noise. The head is supported on a massive neck, at the top of which a long mane grows.

The horse has a massive and muscular body that can withstand high loads. From the withers to the sacrum, along the back, the animal has a wide dorso-lumbar line. The horse's hindquarters are sloping. The back has a slightly concave shape. The belly is convex.

The horse's limbs are designed in such a way that the center of gravity falls on the forelimbs. At their end are hooves.

Appaloosa

These horses, bred in America, are characterized by an unusual forelock color. Appaloosa's are easily recognized by their spotted coat.

In equestrian sports, horses are used due to their beauty, endurance and easy-going nature - thanks to the latter quality, they are often chosen as family horses.

An Appaloosa would probably look very natural next to a Dalmatian dog, since the spots on their fur are somewhat similar.

An Appaloosa horse can grow to a maximum height of 155 cm and weigh 550 kg. Although not particularly large in size, the body and legs of Appaloosians are muscular, and the head is well developed.

A beautiful curve of the neck with a chic mane, a wide chest, a straight back ending in an oval croup and a luxurious tail, striped hooves, a white edging around the iris, spots decorating the powerful body - this is a brief description of the Appaloosa beauties.

How do horses sleep?

Sleeping domestic horse Horses
sleep lasts almost half a day. They can fall asleep either standing up or lying on their side. Wild horses prefer the first option. In the event of an attack by wild animals, they will be able to quickly wake up and fight back the attackers. Domestic horses living in a specially equipped stable, on the contrary, do not care about their safety while sleeping and rest lying down.

Small stallions prefer to sleep lying on the ground. Adults organize a constant guard for safety purposes. Usually, in large herds, several horses remain to guard their sleeping brothers.

Marwar

This is an Indian breed that has an unusual ear position. The most valuable representatives of animals include gray and piebald horses. Hindus prefer to use white horses for religious purposes.

Representatives of the Marwar breed are distinguished by a high degree of endurance. Initially they took part in military campaigns. These animals are able to survive without food and water for several days.

Reproduction

Horse with foal
At the age of 2-3 years, horses reach sexual maturity. Under natural conditions, the mating season begins in the spring and lasts until mid-summer. At this time, mares ready for mating secrete a liquid with a specific odor that attracts the stallion.

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Pregnancy in horses lasts 11 months (335-340 days). After the due date, the mares give birth to 1 foal. Twins are a fairly rare occurrence.

A newborn is born clumsy, unsteady on its limbs, but foals are visible from the first minutes of life. After a few hours, the babies adapt and can already stand and follow their mother. The duration of breastfeeding is 4-6 months.

Additional procedures

In addition to washing, horse owners cut and style the mane and give their pets various hairstyles.

How to trim a horse's mane

Horse hair can be cut radically or trimmed, or curly inclusions can be made. Given the rigid structure, large, well-sharpened scissors are needed.

There is no need to restrict the animal’s movements for the procedure. Secure it partially with a cord (a cord with a carabiner about two meters long). If it's your first time cutting your mane and you're worried it will hurt, cut it after a run or workout. When a horse is heated by physical activity, the pores of the skin are enlarged, which reduces pain in the root zone when a hair is accidentally pulled out.

Video: Mane care

The procedure begins from the back of the head, gradually moving to the withers, after moistening the strands. Think about how long you want the final result to be, and keep in mind that the strands will become shorter as they dry. Trim the main length, and then, periodically inspecting from the side, trim the unevenness.

Popular haircuts with curly patterns on the mane today:

zigzag;
heart;
checkers;
hedgehog.

Types of horses

The classification has changed several times. The latest taxonomy defines Przewalski's horse and domestic horse into different species. Kulans are combined with donkeys, and several species of zebras are also included. Taking into account all the changes, the genus of horses was systematized and 7 main species were obtained.

Wild horse (Przewalski's horse)

Przhevalsky's horse
Society first heard about the new species at the end of the 19th century, when N.M. Przhevalsky brought a gift (a horse skull and skin) received from a Kazakh hunter on the Russian-Chinese border. Research has shown that this is a new species of horse, differing from the others in the number of chromosomes (instead of 64, 66 were found in it). The natural habitat of wild horses was Asia, but now they are not found in nature. Currently, there are 2 thousand purebred Przewalski's horses living around the world.

Domesticated horse

Domesticated horse
Representatives of the species are characterized by long limbs and neck, and their hooves are hard. The colors of domesticated horses are different. The most common colors are light brown, gray, and red-brown. There are no general parameters for body weight, height and size for this species: they depend on the breed. They live in all countries of the world.

Feral horse

Feral Horses
Some habits are quite similar to domestic horses. The body weight of representatives of this species varies from 300 to 450 kg. The height of an adult does not exceed 160 cm; sometimes short animals with a height of 100-110 cm are found. A characteristic feature of the species is a rather short tail. Feral horses come in different colors: white, with orange-brown spots, black, brown. The largest population lives in South and North America.

Kiang

Kiang
A large animal with an unusual color: the lower part of the body and limbs are white, and the back and head are reddish-brown. In summer the color becomes brighter, but with the onset of cold weather it fades and acquires a uniform brown color. The kiang's tail is quite short and resembles a donkey's. The height of horses does not exceed 142 cm, and weight can vary from 200 to 430 kg.

The largest populations live on the mountain plateaus of Tibet. They are also found in Nepal and India, but not in such quantities.

Kulan

Kulan
Appearance is more reminiscent of a donkey, but other characteristics are similar to a horse. The kulan is quite short - 125 cm, and its body weight does not exceed 300 kg. The color and length of the hair varies depending on the time of year: in winter the coat is longer and yellow-brown in color, in summer it becomes shorter and acquires a reddish-brown tint. The lower part remains white throughout the year.

Kulans live on dry plains of deserts and semi-deserts. The largest populations remain in Turkmenistan and Northern China.

Faroe Islands horse

A unique species of horse lives on the Faroe Islands.
Of all known species, it is considered the most ancient. The Scandinavians and early Celts brought short horses to the islands. At the beginning of the 20th century, only 5 representatives of this species were discovered, but thanks to breeders, their number is now about 50 individuals.

The height of an adult pony is no more than 124 cm, weight – 250-270 kg. The most common species are brown, black or speckled. Unique animals live only on the Faroe Islands.

Mustang

Mustangs are powerful and hardy horses.
A wild, endangered species of horse lives mainly in America, a few individuals survive in Spain, and a small population lives on Vodny Island (Russia). Graceful, muscular horses are quite difficult to tame. Domesticated animals retain their wild nature and are practically impossible to train. This species was created by natural crossing of English, French and Spanish breeds.

The height of an adult horse does not exceed 150 cm, and its weight is 400 kg. Mustangs are quite durable, capable of developing high speed and maintaining it for a long time. In nature there are bay, red, piebald and 3-color suits.

Proper cleaning

Do not overdo daily cleaning. The entire process should take a minimum of time. To avoid hair damage, you need to choose the right brush:

it has large teeth, with significant gaps between them;
the ends of the teeth are soft, rounded, so as not to accidentally injure the skin.

Before you start cleaning, you need to untangle your mane, passing all the hair between your fingers. Using this method, you can select all the strands. Then, along the line of their growth from tips to roots, you need to smoothly comb the entire hair with your fingers. The second step will be to repeat the steps, but using a large, comfortable comb, whose teeth are large and sparse. When the bulk of the hair is free of large chunks of dirt and foreign objects, the comb should be replaced with a smaller brush, and the process repeated to remove all small debris. As you cleanse, all strands are set aside one by one from the rest of the mane.

In order to once again ensure the degree of cleanliness of horse hair, horse breeders advise re-combing each strand after the main cleaning. If the brush passes freely along the entire length of the hair, then the mane is well cleaned. As a massage, you can also run the brush along the roots of the horse's hair. Such movements improve blood circulation, cleanse the skin of dandruff and excess sebum, which has a beneficial effect on hair growth. To make the entire combing process easier and not damage your hair, you can purchase a special conditioner for dry mane.

Horse breeds

Since ancient times, people have used animals for their own purposes. Among them were horses, since man was able to tame them, despite their rebellion. Later, numerous breeds began to emerge. They differ in the following appearance features:

Color. Varies from light to dark shades.
Wool. It can be red, brown or yellow, less often – white. There are sometimes distinctive spots on the body.
Size and build. Depending on the breed of the horse, its appearance will also change. There are very low ones, reminiscent of ponies, and tall horses.

Almost all horses have hoofs that resemble an oval in shape. They also have a long tail, high slender limbs, a strong and powerful body, and a slightly elongated neck. When it gets cold, the animal's fur becomes coarser and warmer; it warms the horses during severe frosts. By summer it turns into smooth and thin.

Animals are also distinguished by their purpose, which depends on the personal qualities, character of the horse and physique.

Trakehner horse

Trakehner horse
The breed appeared in the 18th century and was created specifically for the army. The Trakehner horse is one of the most durable and strong. Horses often participate in all kinds of competitions and are used for regular riding. The horses are bred in Germany, where the purebred nature of the breed is valued.

It reaches a height of approximately 160-165 cm. The appearance of the animal is not remarkable, but speaks of pride and confidence. The horse is good-natured and gets along well with people.

Arabian horse

Arabian horse
The breed is one of the oldest. Appeared on the territory of the Arabian Peninsula. The appearance of the horse is different from its counterparts. The body looks quite small compared to others that are lighter. The color can be different; the rarest horses to be found are silver or black.

The Arabian horse is often used for sporting competitions. She is considered an excellent horse, hardy and fast.

Akhal-Teke horse

Akhal-Teke horse
An ancient purebred breed was bred by the nomads of Central Asia. The horses are quite tall. The hairline is almost invisible on the thin body of the animal, the hair is sparse and smooth.

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Outwardly, the horse may seem weak, but it is a magnificent horse. It is distinguished by its endurance, tolerates hot weather well, and is extremely sensitive to frost. The horse is attached to its owner, but only if he can really rein it in. Otherwise, the animal will not obey commands and will act according to its instincts.

Friesian horse

Friesian horse
One of the oldest European breeds, bred in the 16th century in Holland. The height of the horse is about 160-170 cm. It is distinguished by a luxurious mane and a bushy tail, muscular legs covered with brushes. Horses are sociable and friendly; thanks to their docile nature and unique appearance, they are often seen in circus arenas. Horses are also used for regular horse riding and sports competitions.

Mongolian horse

Became Mongolian horses
Despite their small size, the horses have a strong build and are distinguished by endurance. They reach a height of 145 cm. Horses are often confused with ponies, but this opinion is wrong.

The exact origin is unknown; according to data, the breed originated in Asia. The body color is predominantly brown. During the cold season, the coat becomes thicker, which prevents horses from freezing from the cold.

Yakut horse

Yakut horse
Squat, short horses in appearance are more reminiscent of ponies. They reach a height of less than 150 cm. The horse's body is covered with thick, warm hair, making it more frost-resistant. The animal has excellent orientation even in unknown terrain and has strong but short legs.

Interesting fact : Yakut horses feel comfortable at low temperatures, even dropping to -50 0C. Among their descendants there is a tundra breed, and horses are bred in the north of Russia, which is why they are not afraid of severe frosts.

Thoroughbred riding horse

Purebred riding horse
The breed was bred in England around the 16th century, and soon spread throughout the world. The color may vary, but regardless of appearance, horses remain wonderful horses. They are fast and resilient, perfect for participating in equestrian competitions and learning to ride.

Interesting fact : the unique body structure of a thoroughbred horse speaks about its purpose. She was born to race. A horse's heart can withstand heavy loads, and its lung capacity is several times greater than that of others.

Anglo-Norman

Anglo-Norman
Bred in France and has always enjoyed particular popularity in its homeland. The height of an adult exceeds 160 cm, the horses are quite large and strong. The color is predominantly bay, but shades may vary. The appearance of the horse speaks of grace and noble blood. Horses are used for various purposes. Some serve the French cavalry; they are also suitable for ordinary riding.

Percheron

Percheron
The breed appeared in the 19th century in France. It is still considered one of the most common in its homeland. The Percheron is strong and resilient and can withstand almost any physical activity.

The height at the withers of an adult reaches 175 cm. As a rule, the color of horses is gray, less often – black. Horses have quite powerful limbs and a massive muscular body. Nature also rewarded them with a luxurious mane.

Shetland pony

Shetland Pony
Where exactly the breed came from is still unknown, it supposedly came from the Shetland Islands. A well-built, strong and strong horse, its appearance resembles a small pony. At the withers it reaches a maximum of 110 cm, while the weight can reach up to 180 kg.

The Shetland pony has powerful short limbs and a long mane and tail. The horse's entire body is covered with thick, warm hair. The eyes are usually dark, but there are ponies with blue ones.

Oldenburg horse

Oldenburg horse
The breed was bred back in the 17th century, at that time it was used mainly for agricultural work. A few decades later, the Oldenburg horse also began to be used for riding.

The breed is classified as heavy. Horses have well-developed muscles, trunk, chest and limbs. An adult male can reach a height of 180 cm. Oldenburg horses do not like to sit still; they require active care and attention.

Oryol trotter

Oryol Trotter
Horses of this breed are often called the symbol of the Russian horse. They were developed back in the 18th century. Orlovites are distinguished by an ideal graceful gait, a long, elongated back and strong, developed limbs. An adult horse can reach a maximum height of 170 cm.

Well-built, slightly temperamental, but good-natured and friendly horses also have a beautiful lush mane. Color may vary.

Orlovites have no analogues in the world; they are hardy and fast. The horses are great for casual riding enthusiasts and athletes.

Clydesdale

Clydesdales
At the beginning of the 20th century, horses had a rather weak and small body. But now Clydesdale horses are known as powerful, energetic and massive horses. Most often they are bay, less often you can see piebald, black or gray. Most individuals are distinguished by light spots on some parts of the body, especially on the limbs. The horses have a firm, confident gait and a large build.

Bityug

Bityug
is a Russian breed of horse that appeared in the 18th century and got its name from the river of the same name. Bityug is considered a heavy horse; they are quite large and have well-developed muscles. The height of an adult individual reaches almost 180 cm. But at the same time, bityugs have rather weak legs and back. There were practically no purebred horses left; after several centuries the breed began to disappear.

Don horse

Don Horse
The first representatives of the breed were not tall and large in build, but over time this changed. The body looks quite elongated and massive; Don horses reach a height of approximately 165 cm.

Donchak people have always been famous for their good health, endurance and speed. The horse adapts perfectly to life in the steppe and can endure great physical exertion. They are not picky and easily find common language with other animals and people. This breed is often chosen for horse riding training.

Bashkir horse

Bashkir horses
The indigenous inhabitants of the Urals come from local steppe and forest breeds. The uniqueness of the Bashkir horse is its unpretentiousness and endurance. They eat solid food, are not afraid of severe frosts and are fully adapted to the harsh northern conditions. The average height of horses is 145 cm, they weigh up to 470 kg.

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