Horses By Melissa Nitz

The Horse Family The horse is a part of the equidae family. The equidae family has the zebra, donkey, and, the horse. Equids are usually thick-skulled animals with bulky bodies. They're also very heavily haired animals. But the length of the hair matters on the type of animal.       The Zebra     The Donkey

The Horse Skeleton The horse skeleton has up to 205 bones. The horse has three different types of joints. One of them is called the synovial joint. The synovial joints are the most common joints to become diseased because they are the most movable joints in the horses body. Next, is the cartilaginous joints. The cartilaginous joints don't move too much so it's very rare to get infected or get a disese from these joints for a horse. Lastly, there is the fibrous joints. The fibrous joints are sometimes movable and sometimes not. It matters on what type of bone you are talking about. For example: the skull is a fibrous bone because it does not move as much. The Horse Skeleton

The Horse What is a horse? A horse is a herbivore that has been domesticated since the prehistoric times. A male adult horse is known as the stallion and the female adult horse is known as the mare. An average horse can live up from 20-30 years. The longest living horse was 62 years old! The average horse can run about 30 mph.(Miles per hour) The highest speed of the horse breed is by the American quarter horse which can run 50 miles per hour!    Different types of horses.

The Foal What is a foal? A foal is basically a baby horse. The male is called a colt and the female is called a filly.  But those names are not to be used until the foal is about 2 or 3 years of age. A mare holds the baby foal up to 12 months before giving birth. By the time the foal is a year old, they call it a yearling. When the colt or filly reaches the age of 4, they are conciderd an adult horse.    Foal and it's mother A Foal

Horse Tack/Supplies There are many different types of tools for the horse. Such as:  The Saddle- Reins- The saddle is a place for the rider to sit for comfort. The reins is a rope that goes around the horse's neck and head to the riders hands. The Stirrup- Halter- The stirrup helps the rider with support on their feet. A halter is a buckle around the horse's head to be tied or lead.

Horse Tack When all together, looks like this: Saddle Reins Stirrup (No halter because this is riding tack. Halter used for leading or tying up)

The Work, of the Horse What can a horse be used for? Horses are used for many different things. Farmers use horses on their farms for feild work. Such as pulling plows for plowing the feilds, or carts to carry vegetables. If the horse is fast or strong, people who own the horse would enter them into competitions. Such as racing or jumping. Some people would use them for a buisness. Such as, hay rides or sleigh rides.(Sleigh rides are for winter) Sleigh with horse Horses plowing the fields                 A race horse

Questions and Anwsers What does a horse eat and drink? Since horses are herbivores, they eat grass, corn, and hay. *Fun fact* Did you know horses ate 159.93 kilograms a day and drink 10-12 gallons of water on cold days and 20-25 gallons of water on hot days?   Why do some horses like standing outside in the rain than to being under shelter? Because horses are designed to live outside. Why do horses nicker or neigh? To say or tell you something. *Fun facts* The neigh is one of the loudest sounds a horse can make. A nicker is a softer neigh which is done through the horses nostrils.      Horses in rain

Questions and Anwsers Why do horses spook at things? Because horses are a prey animal and they get spooked to anything they see to attack or injure them. *Fun fact* Horses eyes are specifically placed on the side of their head so they are able to see what's going on around them.   Why do horses sleep standing up? Because, again, horses are a prey animal and they need to be able to escape danger as soon as possible. When were horses first domesticated? 4,000 B.C. in central Asia.

Questions and Anwsers Why do people love horses so much? Because people love how freely and calm horses look when they run or gallop.  

Bibliography In formation from: Eyewitness By Juliet Clutter-Brock "Why do horses do that?" By Lisa Dines and Beth Messina   Http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/horse Http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/horse_tack