All About Horses

Written by: Natalie Yao

When a horse gallops across a field, its hooves hit against the ground, its mane flies in the wind. Horses are strong, fast animals, but there is much more to them than speed.

Horses have lived alongside people for thousands of years. Before cars and trains, people rode horses to travel and used them to pull wagons and plows. Today, horses still help on some farms and ranches. People also ride them for fun, compete with them in sports, and care for them as companions.

A young horse is called a foal, a female horse is a mare, and an adult male horse is a stallion. Horses come in many colors, including black, brown, white, and gray. Some have spots or a white stripe down their face. They also come in many sizes. A small pony may be shorter than its young rider, while a large draft horse can tower over an adult! Horses can also sleep while standing up. They have special structures in their legs that help them rest without falling over. They also lie down when they need deeper sleep. Their eyes sit on the sides of their heads, giving them a wide view of the world. This helps them notice possible danger, but a horse cannot see directly behind itself, making it dangerous to stand behind them.

Horses are herbivores, which means they eat plants. They spend many hours grazing on grass and also eat hay. A horse’s teeth keep growing for much of its life because chewing tough plants wears them down. Horses need plenty of fresh water as well.

Horses are social animals. In the wild, they live in groups called herds. They communicate with their ears, tails, bodies, and sounds. Ears pointing forward may show that a horse is curious, and ears pinned back can mean it is upset. A soft nicker might be a greeting to another horse or a familiar person.

Caring for a horse takes work. Horses need food, water, shelter, exercise, and regular care for their hooves. People who look after them learn to notice how each horse behaves and what it needs. Building trust takes patience, and that makes time spent with a horse especially rewarding.

Fun Facts

• Horses that are taken care of in a stable can live up to 25 years old

• Their skeleton is made up of 205 different bones

• Among all land mammals, horses have the biggest eyes