Basics Of The Horse And Horse Family

Essay, Research Paper

HORSES

(Swiftness)

The horses habitat depends on the type of horse, there are two types

of horses. One is the standard horses which is commonly used for pleasure

riding,showing, and rodeo (saddle bronc, bronc, barrel racing, roping, and

gymcana.) This type of horse’s habitat is usually on someone’s ranch or farm.

They are kept either in a stable or out on pasture for grazing. The other

kind

of horse is the Mustang, being quite smaller than the standard horse, lives

out

on the plains, or mountains. There is not really a range for standard horses

because they are confined to an area such as their pasture. The Mustang a

very large range, depending on how much land there is. But the larger the

herd the greater the distance they will travel looking for food or water.

Classification of the horse;

Kingdom; Animalia All animals

Phylum; Chordata Backbone.

Class; Mammalia Warm blooded, hairy,

produce live young

Order; Perissodactyla Non ruminant, hoofed

mammal

Family; Equidae Horse family

Genus; Equus Zebra, Assas, horses

Species; Equus Cabllus Horses only

The horse is a herbivore and their main food sources are grain, grass

(hay) , and oats. Horses need extensive amounts of vitamins, minerals, and

proteins to stay their healthiest. They get those from the food that their

owner

gives them, or from the grasses and weeds that they eat. But if they are not

getting all they need, producers have additives, or salt licks for the horse.

Horses are pray to some animals, the standard horse are usually

not hunted. But wild horses such as mustangs, or zebras are pray. They are

fairly high on the food chain. The animals the commonly attach wild horses

are lions, cheetah, and alligators.

The gestation period is eleven months and a day (average). The actual

birthing takes only a short time usually about 15 to 30 minutes. Normally a

foal is born with its front feet first. The newborn foal rests for about 10

or 15

minutes, then tries to get up and is soon it can stand. Within a few hours

after

birth the foal is able to walk, or run quite well on its gangly legs. The

legs

of a newborn foal are almost as long as those of it’s mothers, and grow only

slightly during the horse’s lifetime. The rest of it’s body develops and the

muscles of the legs become large and strong, but the big bones of the legs

remain about the same size.

Though it usually has grown to full height several years before, a horse is

considered to be mature at seven years of age. The litter size is normally

one

foal, it is very uncommon to have twins, but if it does happen the foals will

be

very small and unhealthy.

Did you know that the Thoroughbred is the fastest horse, it can go up

to speeds of 40 to 45 mph. It is also the one that can run the longest at

those

speeds. The Thoroughbred has the second largest registered association.