Horses: A Peek About Them

(Equus caballus)

When I think of horses, the first thing that comes to mind is how beautiful and elegant they are. It's funny because that's how a book starts. They are my words as well. 

I had gone to a few horse farms and saw the majestic animals close up and personal. Now let's learn about them.

Christopher Columbus brought the first horse to the U.S. in 1492. Native Americans first had horses in the early 1700s and did they ever change their lives. How much easier it was to hunt! They could go so fast and be able to catch more prey. You have to remember that this was their main staple. They hunted and killed deer, buffalo and more. I've read stories of how they would skin the animal immediately, hang the skin to dry and cut the meat up to bring home to the tribe.

Early American settlers used the horses to work their fields, carry heavy burdens and get to and from town. They were a great asset.

They stand approximately 15.2 hands tall which is 62 inches. Of course, some animals are smaller and others are larger.  When I close my eyes, I see a horse in all its glory. It has beautiful head with amazing eyes and long eye lashes, ears that stand up and a tail that swings as it gallops. I see the beautiful shape of the head, the body and the strong legs. It is a beauty. 

When you look at a horse you see a lot of muscle. Just watching a horse graze you will see the muscles in his face at work. I enjoyed watching a horse eat. They take their time eating unlike us who eat sometimes without thinking about it. They graze throughout the day since their stomachs cannot handle a lot of food in one sitting. So, if someone tells you that you eat like a horse, that really means that you graze throughout the day, not eat a heap of food.


Horses have 216 bones and over 700 muscles. Incredible, huh? This is how their beauty is enhanced. We are drawn to the muscles at work as they walk, gallop or canter. Their lifespan is 25-30 year.

How long have horses been on earth? Well, think about the fossils you have seen of various insects, animals and plant life. A fossil was found that indicates that the horse has been in Europe and Asia for 10,000 years! 

When I visited the horse farms I noticed that they were together in twos or more. As they are social animals, this makes them comfortable. I also noticed that they follow each other. They groom each other and generally graze together. I have also seen them canter and walk. These two horses above moved in grace. How grand it was to see them canter. Truly a beautiful sight.


Remember: horses were the first mode of transportation in the U.S. The horses before them had habits that are still part of the life of a horse. In which ways? In how they rid themselves of parasites, loose hair, and bugs by rolling in hay.When they roll in the hay they are also relaxing their muscles.

Their speed is from many years of life. They have had to run from predators and this alone taught them the importance of speed. This has helped nowadays with horse racing and other sporting events.

There is a lot more to learn about the horse. As usual, this is just a window to their world.

Each of the above prints are available for purchase.

Thank you for visiting!

Judy

References:

Clutton-Brock, J. (1992).  Horse. Dorling Kindersley Eyewitness Books.

Matthews, R. (2005). All About Animals - Horses.

Otfinoski, S. (2010). Horses.

http://www.texasindians.com/horse.htm