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These charming animals are quadrupedal mammals, of the genus Equus. They stand over 1.50 m tall and weigh over 500 kg.
They also belong to the genus Equus., the donkey and the zebra. Brazil has dozens of horse breeds.
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We have, for example, the following breeds: Creole, Pantanal, Long Mango, Quarter Horse, Thoroughbred English and Thoroughbred Lusitanian.
Main features
They are mammalian animals, so they have a body full of hair.
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And the tonality of animal hair varies between light brown, dark brown, black, white and with spots.
Quadruped animals, then, use four limbs for their locomotion.
The height of horses varies by breed. They are around 1.40 m and 1.70 m (height from the front paws to the end of the neck).
Weight ranges from 400 kilos to 1 ton.
The mare's gestation lasts around 11 months. After they are born, they are breastfed until they are seven months old.
How does horse feeding work?
They are herbivores, so they feed on plants. And they are not ruminants like oxen and cows.
They have a simple stomach, are monogastric. Fiber is digested in the large intestine.
The importance of horses to human development
The horse was extremely important for the development of human beings.
They were used a lot in the past, and even today for the transport of cattle.
Currently they stand out in equestrianism, dressage, polo, jumping, vaquejada and rodeo.
It also assists in the production of serums, such as the antiophidian serum, which neutralizes snake venoms.
What is the difference between donkey, mule and bardoto?
The mare is the female of the horse and they breed with each other.
The crossing of the horse with the donkey generates sterile descendants, the donkey, the mule and the bardoto.
See the meaning of the intersection of each one:
- Donkey: born from the crossing of the donkey with the mare. The donkey is the male.
- Mule: born from the crossing of the donkey with the mare. The mule is the female.
- Bardoto: born from the cross between a horse and a donkey.
Wild horses
O przewalski's horse (Equus ferus przewalskii) is a wild horse that is found in Mongolia.
They are classified, on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Threatened Species List, as an endangered breed (endangered).
They have already been classified as extinct. However, captive breeding programs have been carried out with successful reintroductions and they have returned.
Wild horses differ from domestic breeds in that their mane is shorter and more erect.
In addition to its tail, it has short hair on the upper part, and these have a dark stripe that runs from the mane to the tail.
In winter they grow a thick mane, lost in spring.
These animals are smaller than domestic horses, and their heads are larger.
Horses and their curiosities
- Horses spend long periods feeding. They spend between 12 and 18 hours grazing.
- They have a life expectancy of approximately 25 years.
- Horses that are trapped for a long time can develop emotional disorders. So, if he exhibits abnormal behavior, it means that he is being handled incorrectly.
- No one knows for sure when the domestication of horses took place. Some authors claim that the process may have occurred in Central Asia, around the year 3000 BC
- They arrived in Brazil in 1549 on the Caravela Galva and came from the island of Cape Verde.
- A mare pregnant with a donkey has a longer gestation period than a mare pregnant with a horse. The duration varies between 360 and 375 days.
- Horses communicate through body language. And that communication extends to other groups, like humans.
- They demonstrate their emotional state, from depression or when they feel threatened, through their body and facial expressions.
- Horses have three stages of sleep:
1st phase: shallow sleep he remains standing, with one of the limbs flexed, ears relaxed, neck and rump low.
2nd phase: medium sleep, the animal lies down with its chest on the ground, as well as the tip of its muzzle, keeping its neck raised.
3rd stage deep sleep: he lies down completely.
Horses help in the treatment of diseases
Riding therapy is a medical treatment combining physiotherapy exercises with horseback riding.
This therapy is recommended for people with motor coordination problems. She helps in improving balance, posture and develops body movements.
They help to develop proper balance and posture for people who have suffered cerebral palsy in childbirth.
It is also indicated for people who suffer from hyperactivity, psychomotor retardation and genetic syndromes.
Many hospitals bet on the inclusion of animals as a way to brighten the lives of patients.
And many use horses as stimuli for the sick, as the animal's love can help them recover their health.
The importance of hippotherapy is so great that its day is celebrated on August 9th.
