Have you ever ridden a horse, or fed a horse? Horses are really cool animals, and they love humans as much as we love them. Here is some cool information about horses for you!
Horses are four legged animals that have been around us humans for a really, really long time. They once represented a major way for humans to get around, as they were used for transport. They also performed many other jobs for humans over the years.
Breeds of Horses
There are over 300 different breeds of horses. Wow, that’s quite a lot when you think of a horse.
Horse breeds come in a number of different sizes, colors, and have cool different skills.
There are three main types of horse breeds:
Hot bloods are fast horses that are just there for speed and racing.
Cold bloods are generally bred for strength and heavy work.
Warm bloods are a combination of the other two types and are often used for riding competitions.
The scientific name for the horse is Equus ferus caballus.
What are some names for horses?
Did you know that there are lots of different names for horses? Well there are, and it all depends on whether they are male or female and how old they are. Here they all are. Do you know all of these names?
Foal – a baby horse less than a year old.
Yearling – a young horse between the ages of one and two.
Colt – a male horse less than four years old.
Filly – a female horse less than four years old.
Stallion – a male horse older than four years old that is not a gelding.
Gelding – A castrated male horse.
Mare – a female hose older than four.
Horses with different coat colors have different names. Here are some of the main colors:
Bay – light reddish-brown to dark brown with a black mane, tail, and lower legs.
Chestnut – reddish color with no black.
Grey – black skin, but a mixed coat of white and black hairs.
Black – entirely black.
Sorrel – a type of chestnut with a very reddish coat.
Dun – yellowish or tan coat.
Palomino – a light golden color.
Pinto – a multicolored horse with patches of red, brown, white, and/or black.
What kind of food do horses eat?
Horses are animals that graze and they mostly eat hay and grasses. They also like peas and beans, fruit like apples, and we’re sure many of you have fed them carrots…they like these too.
What is a Pony?
A pony is just a small horse. There are certain breeds of horses that are small and these are called ponies.
Are there wild horses?
The only wild horses that are not extinct are the Przewalski’s Horses which live in China and Mongolia. They are nearly extinct and are actually highly endangered. That’s really sad! These are horses that live in the wild that actually come from (are descended from) domesticated horses. They are called feral horses.
More Fun Facts!
Horses have excellent senses including good hearing, eyesight, and a fantastic sense of balance.
There are four basic gaits that indicate the speed a horse is moving. From slowest to fastest they are: walk, trot, canter, and gallop. Have you tried any of these?
Horses can sleep standing up or lying down. Now that’s quite weird…imagine sleeping standing up.
Humans first tamed horses around 4000 BC. Wow, that’s a long time ago.
Horse riding is often used as a form of therapy for people with disabilities.
Horses are still used today by the police. How cool is that?
A horse’s hoof is always growing and needs to be clipped. Farriers are people that specialize in taking care of horses’ hooves and putting on horse shoes. Now you know a new word!
There’s everything you need to know about cool horses…they are beautiful animals that can really help humans. Do you know any other facts about horses that you can share with your class?