Horse sense
If you love horses and ponies, or are discovering the joys of riding here are some interesting facts about horses
One of the first horses was called a Hyracotherium. It lived about 50 million years ago. It was only the height of a small dog and had toes! Over millions of years this creature evolved to become the type of horse we know today.
A horse's hoof is like a fingernail. It is always growing and needs to be clipped so that it won't be uncomfortable for the horse. When a farrier, the person who makes horseshoes, fits them on a horse he also clips the hooves to keep them from getting overgrown.
A horse gets all of its teeth by the time it is five years old. After that, they just get longer.
Horses communicate how they are feeling by their facial expressions. They use their ears, nostrils, and eyes to show their moods. Beware of a horse that has flared nostrils and its ears back. That means it is angry or afraid and might attack!
A male horse is called a stallion. In the wild, usually only one stallion will stay with a herd. A female horse is called a mare. In a herd it is the mare that decides when the herd moves on to another spot to find food. Horses and ponies feel safer when they are in a herd
Horses have served mankind for centuries. In many places they still work on farms and pulling delivery carts, caravans and barges. Ponies take children for rides on beaches and pull small carts.
Adult horses are kept for racing, show jumping or circus performances. But most are kept as much-loved pets.
A horse's hoof is like a fingernail. It is always growing and needs to be clipped so that it won't be uncomfortable for the horse. When a farrier, the person who makes horseshoes, fits them on a horse he also clips the hooves to keep them from getting overgrown.
A horse gets all of its teeth by the time it is five years old. After that, they just get longer.
Horses communicate how they are feeling by their facial expressions. They use their ears, nostrils, and eyes to show their moods. Beware of a horse that has flared nostrils and its ears back. That means it is angry or afraid and might attack!
A male horse is called a stallion. In the wild, usually only one stallion will stay with a herd. A female horse is called a mare. In a herd it is the mare that decides when the herd moves on to another spot to find food. Horses and ponies feel safer when they are in a herd
Horses have served mankind for centuries. In many places they still work on farms and pulling delivery carts, caravans and barges. Ponies take children for rides on beaches and pull small carts.
Adult horses are kept for racing, show jumping or circus performances. But most are kept as much-loved pets.