The horses are animals mammalswhich are grouped in the family Equity, same family as donkeys and zebras, and in the genre Equus, which also includesHey the asses. They are quadrupeds herbivores, that is, they only feed on vegetables, and notthey are ruminants. On average, horses, when free, graze about two-thirds of their day. This is because they have a small stomach, so they feed slowly.
Horses are animals that have different breeds., being possible in Brazil to find several of them. Examples of horse breeds are: Creole, Mangalarga, Pantaneiro and Brazilian Equestrian. This last race was created in the 70s from the crossing of races that presented better sports performance.
On average, horses have a height that varies between 1.40 m and 1.70 m (until the withers). Thus, when the animal is less than 1.46 m tall, it is considered a pony. An animal of 1.50 m has an average weight of 400 kg. It is noteworthy that the weight of these animals also varies according to the breed, being much higher in muscular breeds, as is the case of the A quarter of a mile.
The horse's fur has several shades, and it is possible to observe the brown, reddish, black and white colors. There are also breeds that have spots on the body.
The gestation time of the mare, when it is pregnant with a horse, lasts from 335 to 345 days, in other words, around 11 months. When the mare is pregnant with a donkey, the time is relatively longer, with gestation lasting around 360 to 375 days. The horse's life expectancy is 25 to 30 years.
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→ Wild Horse
The wild horse, known as Przewalski's Horse (Equus ferus przewalskii), is smaller than domestic horses, however, it has a slightly larger head. Its mane is short and erect, its tail is long, with short hair on top, and its eyess, small. It is a aggressive animal that shows strength and endurance.The. This species is not territorial.
Wild horses are currently in danger of extinction.
The wild horse inhabits steppe and semi-desert areas and it is usually found in flocks, and it can also be seen living in isolation. It is currently classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as endangered (endangered). In the past, this species was already classified as extinct in the wild.
→ Horse domestication
Horses are animals that played a role iimportant in human history, its domestication being, without a doubt, an important step for humanity. The first domestications of horses are believed to have taken place in Central Asia around 3000 BC. Ç. It is noteworthy that there is a great deal of divergence regarding the beginning of the domestication of these animals among authors who are experts on the subject.
It is important to remember that when we talk about domestication, we are referring to a process that takes a wild living being living under the dominion of the human being. In the case of horses, these started to serve, mainly, as draft and load animals. In addition, horses were also used in battles and even in sports.
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→ domestic horses
Domestic horses (equus ferus caballus) have some characteristics that differentiate them from wild horses. Among the main differences are the slimmer body and taller limbs. Also, the mane is longer and is not erect. on wild horsesuh, the long mane is not seen falling forward between the animal's ears and forehead.
Domestic horses are used as draft and pack animals.
domestic horses are healthyo Created for the most varied functions and need a series of care. The confinement of horses causes serious behavioral problems in these animals, and boredom is one of the main reasons for the development of these disorders. THEin addition, stress in these animals can be a consequence of inadequate feeding, pain, small space and lack of tranquility. Therefore, it is clear that raising a horse is a task that it requires dedication and also a big investment.
→ Donkey, mule and bardot
The mare is the female of the horse, however, it does not only reproduce with this animal. The mare can reproduce with the donkey and, in this case, we have the birth of the donkey (male) or mule (female). The horse does not only reproduce with the mare and can also reproduce with the donkey, giving rise in this case to the bardot. In both cases, we observed the crossing of different species, therefore, the originated animals are sterile.
→ Importance of horses for humans
The horse is one of the animals that helps the most.plow humanity in its development. This animal presented and is of great importance.for humans. See, below, some of the activities performed by the horse that helped and help human beings in their daily lives:
Horses are used as a pack animal.
Horses help humans manage livestock.
the horses aream used to aid the movement of mechanisms that helped to grind grain.
Horses are used for sporting activities such as jumping, horseback riding, rodeos and rodeos.
Horses are used for the production of serums. Antivenom serum, for example, is made by extracting snake venom and inoculating it into the horse. After the production of antibodies, part of the blood is removed, and the blood plasma, processed. The red blood cells are returned to the horse's body.
Horses are also used for sporting activities.
→ Arrival of horses in Brazil
Horses were essential for Brazilian economic development. They arrived in our territory in the year of 1549.Tomé de Souza (first governor general of Brazil) was responsible for ordering animals to come from Cape Verde to Bahia. The horses then arrived, along with cattle, in the Caravela Galga.
Curiosity: The ancestors of horses are believed to date back 55 million years.
By Ma. Vanessa Sardinha dos Santos
