Horse Biology and Domestication

Horse Biology and Domestication

• Horse (Equus ferus caballus): A domesticated, one-toed hoofed mammal.
• Family: Equidae. One of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus.
• Evolution: Evolved over 45-55 million years from Eohippus (a small, multi-toed creature) to the modern single-toed horse.
• Domestication: Began around 4000 BCE, widespread by 3000 BCE. Domesticated horses can exist in feral populations. True wild horses have never been domesticated.
• Specialized vocabulary: Exists for equine concepts, from anatomy and life stages to colors, markings, breeds, locomotion, and behavior.

Horse Adaptations and Behavior

• Adaptations: Adapted for running (escaping predators). Strong sense of balance, and a "fight-or-flight" response.
• Sleeping: Can sleep standing or lying down. Young horses sleep significantly more than adults.
• Reproduction: Mares carry foals for approximately 11 months. Foals can stand and run shortly after birth.
• Training: Domesticated horses typically start training between ages two and four.
• Maturity: Reach full adult development by age five.
• Lifespan: Average lifespan is 25-30 years. Exceptionally some can live into their 40s or beyond uncommonly, Old Billy (19th century) reaching 62.

Horse Breeds and Types

• Classification: Three categories based on temperament, "Hotbloods" (spirited, speed, endurance); "Coldbloods" (draft horses, slow, heavy work); and "Warmbloods" (crosses between hot and coldbloods, for specific riding purposes).
• Types: Over 300 breeds globally, developed for various uses.

Human-Horse Interactions

• Uses: Sports, recreation, working activities (police, agriculture, entertainment, therapy).
• Historical use: Warfare (led development of riding/driving techniques and equipment).
• Products: Meat, milk, hide, hair, bone, pharmaceuticals (e.g., from pregnant mare urine).
• Care: Humans provide food, water, shelter, vet care and farrier work to domesticated horses.

Horse Lifespan and Terminology

• Lifespan: 25-30 years, occasionally living into 40s or even longer.
• Age Calculation: An extra year is added to a horse's age on January 1st (Northern Hemisphere) or August 1st (Southern Hemisphere) for most competitions, except for endurance riding, where actual age is used.
• Foal (under one year): Nursing foal is called a suckling, weaned foal is called a weanling.
• Yearling (1-2 years)
• Colt (male horse under four).
• Filly (female horse under four).
• Mare (female horse four years or older).
• Stallion (non-castrated male horse four years or older).
• Gelding (castrated male horse of any age).