Horse vs Stallion
Horse has been one of the closest animals with man for a long time that could be traced back to almost 4,000 years. The main reason for that long, unbroken relationship with man is the great ability of horses to provide their assistance to ease the workload of human. Stallions, on the other hand, have been instrumental in maintaining the horse populations at the proper levels, as they contribute through their reproductive ability. Despite the fact that it is a long relationship between man and horse, there are many instances people do not know the real difference of a stallion from other horses.
The fossil records of horses discovered from Europe, Asia, and North America provide ample evidence about their wide distribution in the world since ancient times. Horses at different ages are referred by different names such as Foals for less than one year olds, Yearlings for 1 – 2 year olds, Colts males under 4 years old, Fillies for females under 4 years old. Adult females are known as Mare while adult reproductive males are known as Stallion. The castrated adult male horse is referred as a Gelding. They are mammals with large bodies, which measure about 400 – 550 kilograms. Horses vary in their coat colour, markings on the coat, and body size according to the breed, nourishment levels, and genes of the parental populations. The ears are not distinctively long and pointed, but the hairs between poll and withers are long. The horse’s tail hairs are considerably long and drop down like a waterfall. Horses do not live as herds in wild. There are two extant subspecies of wild horse, Equus ferus. The domesticated subspecies is known as E. f. caballus (domestic horse, or the most common one) while the other one is E. f. przewalskii (Przewalski’s Horse or Mongolian Horse). Their characteristic whining sound is important for them in the wild for communication. It is interesting to notice that a horse daily necessitates a dry matter weight of about 2.5% of their total body weight. With a greater economic value, horses serve human as family pets, game animals, and sometimes food. Additionally, horses have been taking parts in recreational activities. These long-lived animals have lifespans ranging from 25 to 30 years. Therefore, a well-domesticated horse leaves many memories in the hearts of people.
Stallion is the reproductively active adult male horse. The stallion of each breed and each subspecies of horses are vital for the survival of each generation. Stallions provide half of the gene pool that is required to produce an offspring through sexual mating with a mare. Stallions are especially cared with serious attention by the owners and breeders, as they are the prospective candidates responsible to produce a healthy next generation. Usually stallion is larger than mares, and their physical strength is greater than the females. Their physical characteristics are quite similar to other members of the same breed, except for the obvious differences of the reproductive systems. They are ever ready to mate with a mare, and that is their main function.
What is the difference between Horse and Stallion?
• Stallion is the reproductively viable adult male of the horse, while horse could be any of foal, yearling, colt, filly, mare, or stallion.
• Stallions have the well-developed and functioning male reproductive system while others do not.
• Stallion is slightly larger and much stronger than mare.
• Stallion is ever ready to mate with a mare while mares have to come to oestrus to be ready to mate.