How to use this Book
An overview of the unique way in which this book is designed to function.
Similar to the species that this
In contrast, the left-hand
book examines, it is quite versa-
pages provide an area for readers
tile. The right-hand page of each
more interested in understanding
spread offers a brief overview of
the meaning behind each of the
the topic, while the left-hand side
topics discussed. Smaller text in
of the spread goes into further
spacious columns means that
detail and explanation. In this way,
more information can fit on the
it may be used as either a simple
page or arranged to playfully ref-
reference or an in-depth study of
erence the topic. Spacious layouts
how horses function.
with ample white space offer many
The arrangement of the right-
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places for note-taking. Descrip-
hand pages may appeal to the
tions are provided in greater detail,
casual reader, or can be used as
in order to convey more meaning
a general reference. Large, heavy
and understanding of each topic.
text makes for increased hierarchy. Placement on the page makes use of the outside edge, where the reader’s eye can most quickly capture the information. Text that is to-the-point gets the concepts across quickly.
Wondering how to use this book? Look to the right side of the spread for abbreviated versions of the content, left side for details.
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Published 2019
This book is dedicated to all the horses—they can’t speak for themselves.
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Contents
Evolution Types of Horses Movement Hooves Brain Senses
6 10 12 14 16 18
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Evolution
In order to understand how a horse operates, it is important to know how the species developed.
As with any species, the animal
Large groups of animals are less likely
we know as the ‘horse’ (Equus Ferus
to be attacked than a single animal.
Caballus) has gone through a lengthy process to arrive at a form we rec-
awareness: swiveling ears that can
ognize. There is discrepancy on the
pick up faint sounds, eyes that take
path of evolution, but it is agreed that
in distant horizons and a nose that
horses began as dog-like, forest-dwell-
distinguishes threatening scents.
ing creatures: Hyracotherium. A flex-
The next line of defense is speed.
ible spine, and multiple toes on each
While certain breeds are quicker than
foot made this animal well-suited for
others, the general rule is that horses
living (and hiding) in the forest.
can cover large areas of land in a rela-
As swamps and forests gave 6
Accompanying that is a horse’s
tively short time. This is typically their
way to plains and grasslands, these
response in escaping a situation that
small creatures adapted to be larger,
they find uncomfortable.
longer and taller—built for running.
When all else fails, a horse
Necks elongated and number of toes
resorts to fighting when they feel they
reduced, so this animal no longer
need to save their lives. Well-placed
searched out a hiding space, but
kicks from the hind legs, striking with
would flee in order to save itself.
the front feet and bites from strong
Since then, the horse’s first protection has been its herding nature.
jaws can make them a fierce opponent for most predators.
How Your Horse Works, Susan McBane, 2002
Today’s horse developed from a small, forest-dwelling, creature. As a prey animal, the method for survival has always been to avoid danger, and to defend themselves if necessary.
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Evolution
A variety of breeds have developed, thanks to the specialization of the species in different areas.
The horse species is a fascinating
Still other horses escaped captivity,
example of specialization. Naturally
creating feral herds that crossbred
and by human design, horses have
and became sources of hunting
developed into an array of different
mounts for indigenous populations.
breeds exhibiting traits specific to
Specialization lead to the hundreds of
their environment and use.
distinct breeds recognized today.
Though the species originated in
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Based on a recent study, it is
North America, they became extinct
believed that each of these breeds
on the continent—only re-introduced
trace back to two main lineages:
when European colonists brought
Arabian horses from the Arabian
horses with them years later. As in
Peninsula and Turkoman horses (now
other parts of the world, early settlers
extinct) from the Eurasian Steppe.
bred stock selectively with a focus on
As with their modern counter-
perpetuating certain desirable traits. A efficient tool in production prior to the industrial revolution, equine specialization became as diverse as human need. Farm horses were bred for strength and size; mail delivery horses for speed and
parts, these examples of ‘Old World’ stock are classified scientifically as: Animalia Phylum Chordata Mammalia Perissodactyla Hippomorpha Equidae Equus Ferus Caballus
(Animal Kingdom) (having a spine) (mammals) (hooved grazers, odd number toes) (horse-like forms) (horses, asses, zebras) (modern equines) (wild horses) (the domesticated horse)
stamina; stock horses for cow sense.
www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/06/most-modern-horses-came-just-two-ancient-lineages, Michael Price, 2017 Almanac, National Geographic, 2019
Most of the breeds that are available throughout the world evolved from the two main ancestral types: Arabian, and Turkoman.
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Types of Horses
There are many breeds today available for very specific tasks. These can be categorized into three groups.
Though specializations have developed over time within the horse world, as a general rule, each breed fits into three main categories: heavy horses, light horses, ponies. Though there are exceptions to every rule, these classifications are mainly based on size and proportion in breed standards.
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Examples of breeds in this category: Percherons Belgians Clydesdales Heavy horses are the largest category in terms of both height and muscling. They are the ‘workhorses,’ traditionally used for farm work, construction and pulling heavy loads.
Examples of breeds in this category: Quarter Horses Thoroughbreds Arabians Light horses are smaller in stature than their heavy counterparts. Further categorized as sport horses and stock horses, this includes breeds used for sporting events and livestock handling.
Pocket Guides Horses, Firefly Books, 1995
The various specialized breeds can be categorized into groups: heavy horses light horses ponies. Examples of breeds in this category: Shetland Connemara Welsh
Ponies are, on average, the smallest group. Hardy, stout and durable, they were used within mines and other confined spaces. Today, they are mounts for children.
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Movement
Gait, action, way of going or movement are all terms to describe the ways in which horses move.
Fastest of the gaits is the gallop. This is another four-beated gait, but more energy-consuming and much quicker The lope (canter), is a three-beated
than the walk. The gallop is similar to
motion. This gait includes two varia-
the lope, but the stride stretches out
tions: ‘left lead’ or ‘right lead.’ In the
to cover more distance. The second
right lead, the left hind foot is actually
and third foot in the sequence strike
placed first. Then the right hind and
the ground in quick succession rather
left front are placed at the same time.
than at the same moment.
Finally, the right front is placed last and reaches furthest forward. A pause follows before the rhythm is repeated.
Within the jog (trot) there is a vast difference in possible speeds. Here,
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the horse places a hind foot and the The walk is typically a horse’s
opposite front foot at the same time,
slowest gait. It consists of even,
followed by the other two feet. This is
four-beated movement. The animal
known as travelling in diagonals and
places one hind foot, followed by the
creates an even, two-beated gait.
corresponding front foot, then the other hind foot followed by that corresponding front foot.
equimed.com/health-centers/behavior/articles/horse-rhythms-and-movements-from-walk-to-gallop-and-in-between, EquiMed Staff, 2018
There are four main gaits that the various horse breeds have in common: w a l k jo gj og l op e g a l l
w a l k w a l k, jo gj og jo gj og, l op e l op e, o p g a l l o p.
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Hooves
Spending most time on their feet, good-quality hooves are incredibly important for horse health.
Horses have a singular toe (known as a hoof) on each foot. Prehistoric ancestors possessed multiple toes which disappeared through evolution. Remnants of these extra toes are the splint bones located beside the cannons in the lower limbs, and rough growths called chestnuts on the upper inside portion of each leg. While the species varies significantly from one breed to the next, these traits remain the same. A horse foot is made up of many interrelated parts that are grouped into four main structures: the skeletal, elastic, sensitive and outer structures. The skeletal structure of the equine foot (as one might guess) contains bones. Both the long and short pastern bones extend mainly above the hoof itself while the coffin bone and navicular bone are contained within the hoof. These bones work together to provide a foot framework and 14 make motion possible. Important elastic portions include lateral cartilages and the plantar cushion. As the name suggests, these parts can expand and contract. They act as shock absorbers, accommodating for the pressures of impact when the foot hits the ground. Though the hoof is hard and tough on the outside surface, there are sensitive parts as well. The sensitive structure includes the coronary band and perioplic ring located at the top edge of the hoof. Sensitive laminae, sensitive sole and sensitive frog are located within the foot, between the bones and the bottom hoof surface. Finally, the outer structure creates a hard, tough covering over the entire hoof, with some areas
transferring information through to the sensitive structure more easily than others. The hoof wall encases the other structures on the upper and outer surface, protecting the parts underneath. The horny frog and horny sole are located on the underside of the hoof, and are capable of transferring pressure to the elastic structures. The expression, ‘no hoof, no horse,’ indicates that a horse with poor feet will not be suitable for even simple tasks, or will not hold up under strenuous work. It is imperative that sufficient care is given to working horses in order to maintain health and soundness of their feet. Hoof care of domestic horses includes regular trims by a farrier and sometimes shoeing with metal for protection of the feet. In a regular trim, excess material is removed from the base of the foot by cutting away old growth. In the wild, a horse’s feet should wear down naturally as they make their way across rough terrain, so it is important to maintain this concept in tame horses with regular trims. The rate of hoof growth always varies from horse to horse, so timing of trims depends on each individual. A good rule of thumb is to schedule trims every six–eight weeks. While some horses will do just fine ‘barefoot’ with regular trims, others benefit from the added protection of horse shoes. Competition horses, those with heavy work schedules and horses with existing soundness issues are often ‘shod’ as a way to protect the hoof. This must also be done regularly in order to maintain hoof health and soundness.
Horses and Horsemanship, Ensminger, 1977
No hoof, no horse. It’s pretty much as simple as that.
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Brain
Horses interpret situations differently than humans do. This is valuable to understand.
Before understanding how a
difference is continued development
horse brain works, it helps to have
in humans that lead to the third layer:
basic knowledge of the human brain.
the neocortex or cerebral cortex is the
The highly developed human
largest part of the human brain. The
brain is made up of three distinct,
frontal, parietal, occipital and tempo-
progressive layers. These layers are:
ral lobes are located here. This makes
the reptilian brain, the limbic system
language, speech and writing possible
and the neocortex.
for humans and not horses.
The reptilian brain is the most
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However, humans tend to
primitive level. It includes the brain
interpret horse actions as they would
stem and cerebellum. This portion
other humans, placing certain aware-
takes care of body maintenance and
ness where it cannot exist. The prob-
survival, through digestion, reproduc-
lem is that horses don’t understand
tion, circulation and respiration.
situations in the same way we do.
Next is the limbic system, which
Without that neocortex, horses can-
handles emotion and memory,
not reason or plan. They do not play
especially where those relate to food,
a joke on their riders so that they can
bonding and learning favourable or
tell their friends about it later. They
unfavourable outcomes.
simply live from moment to moment,
Horse brains are similar to human brains to this point. The main
seeking comfort and learning from the immediate effect of their actions.
Evidence Based Horsemanship, Dr. Stephen Peters and Martin Black, 2012
Horse brains do not function in the same way, or even have all the same parts that human brains do. 17
Senses
180 degrees iveling f sw eo om all sides. nds fr sou re c ture Ears ato cap
hum roa der r an ang ear e of tone s ca n.
Like humans, horses use a variety of senses to evaluate the world around them.
hb uc m
and pitch than
They also cap ture a
apa bl
The eye t. A sm s are alle s s. r
ree visi deg orse’s on wit dep h t
of the head, giving 3 r side 5 ithe binocular vision means a 0 e on of et pace There is al strip oforse h s nta horizo hin the eirhead re densee cells weitorlowerth they a t c iv is sensiteymustraith the objebring it h to w T l eye. be in leve in order s. to studying tofocu in
ectly behind and in fr ts dir clear than o on spo on is less ur lind cepti h b per h
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Pe op le o ften mis inter pret a horse that is nuzzl ing something.
A refine ds nce, help i sta ding f
from a grea td ents i tors or f da er. in at
. the horse is smelling the item
es to detect sc ors ding pre dw
.
ll it sme In fact, the horse could h touc ugh to close eno s a w t i re befo
fee ling t
h he Instead, t
The whisker so na
in allowing the h orse serve
They each hav e an
to fe el th eir s urro und ings for s afety .
ind ivid iau l bl ood sup ply a nd
h
uz em ors
. item he
ors e is
lon
g
f smell allows se o h en hem in avoi ng t eed an
Th ey m ight t hink
zle are sen sor y
organ s. The Horse Lover’s Bible, Tamsin Pickeral, 2008
Horses can hear more pitches and smell more acutely than humans. They can see nearly all the way around themselves and feel items using their whiskers.
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References
How Your Horse Works, Susan McBane, 2002 www.sciencemag.org, Michael Price, 2017 Almanac, National Geographic, 2019 Pocket Guides Horses, Firefly Books, 1995 equimed.com, EquiMed Staff, 2018 Horses and Horsemanship, Ensminger, 1977 Evidence Based Horsemanship, Dr. Stephen Peters and Martin Black, 2012 The Horse Lover’s Bible, Tamsin Pickeral, 2008
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