About Horses

Horses are strong creatures that have played a significant role in human history. Not only are they used for traveling, but also for transportation of goods. Now horses are used primarily for horseback riding as a leisure activity, and some people breed horses for show. Having a horse for a pet is hard work, but horses are amazing creatures that can enrich your life.

  1. History

    • Humans have used horses for various activities. Travelers took advantage of their speed and strength during the Pioneer era. During the American Revolution and other wars, soldiers have relied on their strength. Horses have also been used to help hunt. Because technology has come so far, horses are no longer relied upon for transportation or to do physical labor like pull plows or carry heavy loads. It's now more common to see horses used for recreational activities like polo and fox hunting. Showing a horse's skill in jumping or dressage has also become a sport.

    Types

    • There are many different breeds of horses. A couple of popular horses known for strength and ability to help humans are the American Paint Horse and the Clydesdale. The American Quarter horse is often used by new equestrians, and the Thoroughbred horse and American Standardbred are also used in equestrian sports. Miniature horses make excellent pets. When it comes to the types of equine breeds, there are three; coldbloods, large but gentle; hotbloods, speedy runners and warmbloods, competitive horses.

    Considerations

    • Just like any other animal, a horse needs food and water, but in large amounts. A horse can drink between five and 10 gallons of water a day, and a horse will eat about two or more pounds of feed for every 100 pounds of body weight. The most natural food source is the pasture, and it should be sectioned so that the horses can rotate and allow the grass to grow back. In addition to the pasture, horses also need to eat hay, concentrates (grains or grain mixed with molasses) and minerals (salt block). Horses also need shelter such as a barn where they can find protection from the weather.

    Geography

    • Wild or feral horses are found in the western plains and deserts of North America. Because they have not been trained and domesticated, they roam these areas as nomads. Wild horses also roam some east coast barrier islands and areas of Australia. The meat of wild horses is a delicacy in France, Belgium and Japan.

    Warning

    • Horses are strong animals that can pose a danger to humans if they are not approached calmly. In addition, they can suffer from many different diseases and illnesses including Tetanus (lockjaw), Equine Encephalomyelitis (sleeping sickness), Equine Influenza, Equine Herpesvirus (viral abortion), West Nile virus, rabies, Strangles (shipping fever) and Potomac Horse Fever. Horses require regular veterinarian exams, especially when pregnant.