Breed: Horse

Average Size: There are four main groups:

1. light horses with small bones, thin legs and weighing less than 1300 pounds; like Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses, Morgan horses and Arabians,
2. heavy or draft horses which can weigh up to 2000 pounds and are strong with large bones and sturdy legs; such as Draft, Clydesdale, Shire horses
3. ponies which are usually not more than 58 inches tall , making them smaller than a horse like a Shetland and Caspian ponies, and
4. feral horses which are wild or semi-wild horses which range in size.

Appearance: There are many different breeds of horses. Some of them are Shetland Pony, American Walking Pony, Anadolu Ati, Merens Pony, Chincoteague Pony, Asturian Pony, Australian Pony, Australian Riding Pony, Bali Pony, Bardigiano Pony, Bashkir Pony, Basque Pony, Basotho Pony, Batak Pony, Bhutia Pony, Boer Pony, British Riding Pony, Burmese Pony, Carpathian Pony, Caspian Poney, Chinese Guoxia, Connemara Pony, Czech Small Riding Pony, Dales Pony, Deli Pony, Dartmoor Pony, German Riding Pony, Dulmen Pony, Eriskay Pony, Exmoor Pony, Falabella, Faroe Poney, Fell Pony, Flores Pony, French Saddle Pony, Galician Pony, Garrano, Gavoe, Gotland, Guizhou pony, Hackney pony, Highland Pony, Hokkaido Pony, Hucul Pony, Hunter Pony, Icelandic horse, Java Pony, Kazakh Pony, Kerry bog pony, Landais Pony, Lijiang pony, Lundy Pony, Manipuri Pony, Merens Pony, Misaki, Miyako Pony, Narym Pony, New Forest Pony, Newfoundland pony, Noma pony, Nooitgedacht pony, Northlands Pony, Ob pony, Peneia Pony, Petiso Argentino, Pindos Pony, Sable Island Pony, Sandalwood pony, Sardinian Pony, Shetland pony, Tibetan Pony, Timor Pony, Virginia highlander, Vyatka (horse), Welara, Welsh pony,Welsh mountain pony, Yakut Pony, Yonaguni, and Zaniskari pony.

Lifespan: 20-30 years

Habitat: Horses do need shelter and what can be considered adequate will vary according to the season. In summer, a horse needs protection against sun, rain, wind and hail. In winter, cold, snow and wind are the elements to consider. The size of the shelter depends on the number of horses. For an open-front shelter, allow at least 64 square feet per horse. The ceiling should be at least 9 feet high. Horses have a very strong social order, and for safety, the shelter should be wide rather than deep. The shelter must be built on either well-drained land, or the floor built up to make sure it stays dry. The open side should face away from the prevailing wind.

Food: Horses love to eat short, juicy grass. They also eat hay especially in the winter or when they are stabled. Extra high energy food such as barley, oats, maize, chaff, bran or processed pony nuts are good for working horses. Horses have small stomachs for their size and need to eat little and often. If in a field, horses will graze for most of the day. They can drink up to 10 gallons of water a day. A mineralized salt block should be available also as well as vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements A 1,000 pounds (450 kg) horse will eat 15 to 25 pounds (6.8 to 11 kg) of food per day

Temperament: The hot-bloods, such as race horses, exhibit more sensitivity and energy, while the cold-bloods, such as most draft breeds, are quieter, calmer creatures. A hot horse is one that is keenly aware of his environment, making him a little spooky out on the trails or tense amongst a group of other horses. A hot horse quickly becomes frustrated with a rider who asks for one thing but actually wants something else. Barrel racers, jumpers and endurance horses all have a tendency to be on the hot side. Examples are Akhal-Teke, Barb, Arabian horse and Thoroughbred, a breed developed from the older oriental breeds.

At the other extreme of the temperament spectrum is the cold horse. Sure, they're a little lazy at times, but there's something to be said for a horse that enjoys life at a slower pace. Colder horses are perfect for equestrians who view riding as a hobby. Novices enjoy colder horses because, since they're less in a hurry to respond plus they don't react easily to the riders emotions. Examples are the Belgium and larger breeds like the Shire and Clydesdale.

The warmbloods usually refers to a group of sport horse breeds that have dominated the Olympic and Equestrian Games since the 1960s. The Warmblood breeds began when European carriage and war horses were crossed with Arabians or Thoroughbreds, producing a tall riding horse with more refinement than a draft horse, but greater size and more phlegmatic temperament than a lighter breed. Certain pony breeds with warmblood characteristics have been developed for smaller riders.

Special Traits: Horses are herd animals, with a clear hierarchy of rank, usually led by a dominant mare. Horses are very social creatures who are able to form companionship attachments to their own species and to other animals, including humans. They communicate using vocalizations such as nickering or whinnying, mutual grooming, and body language. Many horses will become difficult to manage if they are alone.

Other Important Info: Horses require routine hoof care from a professional as well as regular vaccinations to protect against various diseases. Periodic dental examinations from a veterinarian or a specialized equine dentist are very important to teeth wear. For the protection of the hoof under certain conditions, some horses have horseshoes.. The hoof continually grows, just like a large fingernail, and needs to be trimmed (and horseshoes reset, if used) every five to eight weeks. If horses are kept inside in a barn, they require regular daily exercise for their physical health and mental well-being. Regular grooming is also helpful to help the horse maintain good health of the hair coat and underlying skin.

Horses are usually ridden with a saddle on their backs to assist the rider with balance and positioning, and a bridle or related headgear on their heads to assist the rider. Sometimes horses are ridden without a saddle, and many horses are also driven, which requires a harness, bridle and some type of vehicle..

The following terminology is used to describe horses of various ages:

• Foal: a horse of either sex less than one year old. A nursing foal is sometimes called a suckling and a foal that has been weaned is called a weanling. Most domesticated foals are weaned at 5 to 7 months of age, although foals can be weaned at 4 months with no adverse effects.
• Yearling: a horse of either sex that is between one and two years old.
• Colt: a male horse under the age of four.
• Filly: a female horse under the age of four.
• Mare: a female horse four years old and older.
• Stallion: a non-castrated male horse four years old and older.
• Gelding: a castrated male horse of any age, though for convenience sake, many people also refer to a young gelding under the age of four as a colt.