Horses of old, thundering over the hills and mountains in large herds full of flowing manes and galloping hooves. For centuries, people have worked with and idealized horses. It started with Asian nomads until the invention of the engine.
First, they were our way to travel faster than we ever could have on foot. Then they became a way for us to get work done faster, and finally, they have ended up being less for work and travel and more for pleasure as an intelligent pet.
There are all kinds of history between horses and us. We have changed almost all types of horses. Many breeds are on the brink of extinction that has been around for centuries before now.
In this article, we break down the types of horses. We also look at how they are classified and give you brief bios on some of the most popular or exciting breeds throughout the globe.
How All the Types of Horses Are Classified
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<a href="https://outforia.com/types-of-horses/"><img style="width:100%;" src="https://outforia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Infographic-Outforia-Types-of-horses.jpg"></a><br> Types of horses Infographic by <a href="https://outforia.com">Outforia</a>While there are now hundreds of breeds, they are all classed as the same species. The horse’s scientific name is Equus ferus caballus. They are a mammal and an herbivore.
As a whole, horses are not evaluated on the IUCN Red List since there are so many different breeds. The breed gets evaluated over the species, something that is somewhat unique to horses.
The horse family, or Equidae, is quite a small family compared to many others. All the surviving family members don’t only belong to the same family in the classification system. They also share the same genus, Equus. There are only several living species that fall under this genus, including the horse.
The other equids that are somewhat related to the horse include donkeys, zebras, and asses. Some of these species do have subspecies, but the horse isn’t one of those. Their other relatives and the genera in the family have become extinct.
Horses are also related to animals that are odd-toed and herbivorous. That means you can rule out mammals like pigs, goats, and camels since they all have “cloven hooves” or two toes.
Most of the horse’s other relatives are extinct. The rhinoceros and tapir are also quite close to the horse species. Are you surprised? There are plenty of other relatives that looked a lot stranger in prehistoric times, like the Brontothere.
Wild Horse Habitat and Conservation
Almost every type of wild horse that is left in the world today is endangered. There are movements all over the world to help support the survival of wild horses. Some of these include Return to Freedom, a program focused on conserving threatened species of horses.
Most of the work that Return to Freedom does is across the Americas. They are committed to the conservation of diverse bloodlines defining the American Mustang. They are one of the few wild species left in any abundance.
There is also the American Wild Horse Campaign. It is another nonprofit organization focused on preserving wild mustangs and burros.
The idea is that the American West contains vast amounts of land. These animals should be able to coexist and roam along with us.
Wild horses don’t only maintain populations in America. You can also find programs focused on preserving species in other countries. For example, there is the Przewalski horse. We will focus on this breed later in the article. Due to its unique genetics, there is a lot of work done in Mongolia to preserve its population and bloodline.
Many times most of the horses live close enough to people that they are only considered semi-feral. That is true in the case of the Welsh Pony. they have lost some of their wildness and are more comfortable interacting with humans. If in danger or injured, they are sometimes even rescued by them.
Wild horses play essential roles in their habitats. They help to control invasive plant species. They are also an incredible naturalistic land management technique. These horses aid in maintaining populations of flowers and thus their pollinators. In the fight for a well-balanced ecosystem, we don’t often consider the impact of horses. They shouldn’t be, though.
If you want to volunteer or donate to many different organizations. You can be a factor that helps maintain ancient bloodlines that once thundered across the globe.
5 Types of Horses
Since all horses belong to the same species, we break down the types of horses by their equine groups. Different types of horses have a variety of purposes. These groups are often differentiated based on their size and body type.
The five main types of horses include:
- Warmblood
- Light
- Draft
- Small
- Pony
There are differences in size and stature throughout all these. Among some, such as the Warmblooded horses, there are also some standout personality traits. As we dig into each type of horse, we examine these. We will look at things like their sizes, what sets them apart, and some of the most well-known or unique breeds within that type.
You should also note that some of the types have breeds that might cross over. For example, the Hackney horse can sometimes be a Light Horse breed, and at other times it will get put into the Pony group.
Most of the types are separated because of their size. That makes it somewhat subjective when a horse is right between weights on average. As we get into it, take note of the differences between the types of horses.
1.0 Warmblood Horses
A warmblood horse is a group of middle-weight horses. They tend to stand tall but have an athletic build. Their development often comes from crossing a coldblooded draft breed horse with smaller horses. These horses range in size from 1,300 to 1,700 lbs (590 to 771 kgs).
Warmblood breeds are often those that you find in sporting events. They excel at equine events like dressage, eventing and showjumping. They mix the muscles and the reflections of both lines of horses to be powerful but slim and fit.
Warmblooded breeds are still helpful in competitions and daily activities all over the world. That is why, more than any other type, more development has somewhat recently gone into them. From America to Europe and into Asia, there are new breeds or tweaks done on the beloved breeds all the time.
1.1 Hanoverian
A Hanoverian horse comes from Germany. They are one of the most famous horse breeds in the country because of their athleticism. Hanoverians are often seen in the Olympics. They have helped their rider win gold medals across all three of the equestrian Olympic games.
The Hanoverian is one of the oldest warmblood breeds. They were first bred in the early 1700s by crossing horses such as the Holsteiner and the Thoroughbred. The Holsteiner is also on our list as another old warmblood breed.
During the 18th century, this horse became very popular as a high-class coach horse. They were later used as cavalry horses in the wars because of their courageous temperament and robust build.
The breed has adapted for all kinds of different purposes throughout its timeline. From a farm worker to a sport horse, these horses can do almost anything with only a little tweaking in their line.
Hanoverians have all kinds of beneficial characteristics. They are elegant and robust. A factor that makes them useful is their willingness and trainability.
You can find a Hanoverian in colors such as gray, chestnut, bay and black. Other colors, including white, are banned from being registered. There isn’t a height requirement for this horse, but they stand around 15.3 to 17.1 hands high.
1.2 Irish Sport
You might also hear the Irish Sport horse getting called the “Irish hunter.” This horse breed is traditionally bred out of Ireland.
The Irish Sport horses have resulted from centuries of organized breeding programs. These programs bred thoroughbreds with Irish draught horses. The idea was to make a horse that had the speed and stamina of a Thoroughbred with the intelligence and friendliness of the Irish Draught Horse.
The breed is known for its incredible athleticism and good manners, even among the steamier warmblood horses. They are pretty popular globally but are still rarer than you think, as only 2,000 purebreds currently exist.
Irish Sport horses range in color and size. They stand around 15 to 17 hands tall.
Their coat colors should be solid colors like black, brown, white, buckskin, gray, champagne, and palomino. They might also have more colors potentially. Beyond the solid colors, they might be skewbald, meaning white patches across a nonblack base color, and piebald, black patches on a white base.
1.3 Selle Francais
The Selle Francais is an elegant example of a warm-blooded horse. They were known as the French Saddle Horse as well. Their bloodlines date back to the time of William the Conqueror on the Normandy side. These French mares were crossed with Norfolk Trotters and Thoroughbreds.
The Selle Francais, like many other breeds, have been used for all kinds of purposes. they have been carriage and military horses along with saddle horses. Now, they are known for their athleticism and elegance.
Since their development hundreds of years ago, they have contributed to other famous bloodlines. These include that of the Holsteiner, Oldenburg, and Zangersheide.
The Selle Francais ranges from medium to heavyweight and can range from 15.1 to 17.5 hands tall. They are powerful horses with a lot of stamina and grace. An extra bonus? They are pretty patient with a friendly personality and a hardworking attitude.
The most common colors on these horses are bay and chestnut, although some are registered greys and blacks. It is common to see white markings on these horses, particularly on their lower legs.
1.4 Westphalian
Westphalian horses are one of the most popular warmblood breeds in the United States. They can also be called the Trakehner. The horses come from Germany, bred first in the early 1800s. The Germans needed more able-bodied cavalry horses. Westphalians became some of the army’s favorite cavalry horses since they are slightly heavier but easily ridden.
Throughout the years, Westphalians have been slightly altered for different purposes. they have been bred for sporting and thus made lighter and more athletic. The best feature of these horses is their docile temperament. That makes them easily ridden, even by amateurs.
Westphalians fall right into the average of the warmblood type size. They stand between 15.2 and 17.2 hands high with a similar build to the Hanoverian. Westphalians with any coat color can be registered. Among those, bay, chestnut, black, and gray are the most common.
1.5 Holsteiner
Holsteiners are another beautiful warmblood breed that originates from Germany. they have been bred for more than 700 years, coming from a monastery in Uetersen. Their goal was to create a horse suited for both riding and work. Throughout the years, the breed has been altered to produce heavier and lighter varieties based on their need.
The reason that the Holsteiner has been maintained for so long comes down to its temperament. They are an easygoing warmblood breed, relatively quiet despite their genes. They have a willingness to work and excellent rideability. They are a common pet since they have such a loving personality.
The Holsteiner is a bit larger on average than other warmblood breeds. They stand between 16 and 17 hands high. They can be registered in any solid color. Bay shades are the most common coat colors.
1.6 Other Warmblood Breeds
- Oldenburg
- Forest Horse
- Rhinelander
- Brandenburger
- Zweikbrucker
- Bavarian Warmblood
- Dutch Warmblood
- Swiss Warmbloos
- Trakehner
2.0 Light Horses
Light horse breeds can all trace part of their origin story through the Arabian horse. These horses are incredibly agile and fast. Often, it is these breeds used as racehorses. Most of these breeds came out of North Africa or the Middle East.
Light horses aren’t only used for races. They also make some of the best riding horses and can work pulling light buggies. A light horse breed typically weighs between 900 to 1300 pounds (408 to 590 kgs). They stand around 14.2 hands high, but they can be taller.
In this list, we feature some of the most well-known and influential light horse breeds. There are plenty of other light breeds, but these are the ones that are a “must know.”
2.1 Arabian
Arabian horses are an ancient breed, one whose line extends back thousands of years ago. They have a striking appearance, filled with grace, elegance and spirit. They are very intelligent. They also happen to have ancestral influences on almost all other light and warmblood horse breeds.
The Arabian has a compact body with a long, arched neck. Because of their spirit, they suit experienced owners and riders.
The history of an Arabian extends far enough back in history that nobody knows for sure when they came around. The idea is that they originated from somewhere around the Arabian Peninsula. Bedouin tribes from the area trace their interrelated histories back to 3000 BC. Scientists proved it using meticulous ancestral records.
Over the years, these horses have filled almost every purpose. they have been used in war by Napolean Bonaparte, Genghis Khan, and George Washington.
The Arabian Horse Association only recognizes coat colors like chestnut, black, roan, gray, and bay. They can have facial markings and stockings on their legs. Notably, the skin of the Arabian horse is black unless they have white markings. Their skin protected them from millennia under the harsh desert sun.
2.2 Andalusian
The Andalusian horse is a beautiful light horse breed. As the name would suggest to geography buffs, they come from the hilly region of the Iberian Peninsula. They are another of the ancient horse breeds.
These horses were developed in South Spain and were cavalry horses early on in their history. They suited this position since they are incredibly agile and courageous. As knights began to wear heavier armor, they fell out of favor since they weren’t strong enough to carry the weight.
Nowadays, these horses make a fantastic riding horse, especially for those with a bit more experience. They are also used in bullfighting, classical riding and dressage.
Andalusian horses stand between 15.2 and 16.2 hands high. They are often beautiful shades of gray but can also be chestnut, black, bay, dun and palomino.
2.3 American Quarter Horse
The American Quarter Horse is one of the most popular horses in North America. They are also one of the oldest horse breeds in North America because of their many positive attributes. They are well-known for their speed and agility, along with a personality that is gentle and sweet.
These horses are beautiful and one of the more versatile breeds. They are beautiful and agile, along with friendlier than most hotblooded horses. Their overall personality and ability are what make them suitable for any level of rider.
American Quarter Horses come from Spanish and English horses. Colonizers brought over these breeds to help develop the colonies in the 1600s. They then crossed these breeds with native Chickasaw horses. They eventually received their name because of their great success at the quarter-mile race.
This horse breed was an influencing factor in the pioneer’s westward movement and development. They stand anywhere from 14 to 16 hands high. they have been tweaked slightly throughout the years. The registry now accepts almost all solid colors, with brownish-red sorrel being the most common.
2.4 Pinto
Most horse breeds are only acceptable when they have solid color coats. Pinto horses stand out from this crowd. they have got a large white patches mixed with any other color. This pattern is called “pinto” and is how the horse received their name.
Pinto horses are a color breed instead of getting set apart because of their genetic ancestry. Only a few countries regard them as a full-fledged breed, including America. There is even the Pinto Horse Association of America. They dictate the breeding of the horses that are or are not accepted.
They have quite a history in America with the Native Americans. They were a favored warhorse since their coloring gave them a natural camouflage. Pintos don’t have a consistent body type or conformation. That is because they are bred for color and can be a great variety of breeds.
2.5 Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred horse is another breed that goes back for centuries. They have heavily influenced hundreds of breeds of horses. That includes most of the breeds of warmbloods and some of those on considered light horses as well.
The Thoroughbred is a multipurpose horse. They are hot-blooded horses, and as such, they tend to be very spirited, athletic, and bold. They do not have a demeanor that all equestrians can handle. Those with more experience with spirited horses will feel more comfortable with this breed.
Thoroughbreds have an origin rooted back in the 17th century, beginning in Great Britain. Three stallions became the foundation of all thoroughbreds, two of them Arabians and one a Turk. The breeding program was highly selective, resulting in a magnificent horse.
Thoroughbreds range from 15 to 17 hands high. They can have any solid coat color, but most of them are brown, chestnut, black, gray, and bay. Most registries won’t recognize coats with more than one color. White markings on the face and legs are acceptable.
2.6 Other Light Breeds
- American Paint
- American Saddlebred
- Appaloosa
- Buckskin
- Morgan
- Mustang
- Palomino
- Standardbred
- Tennessee Walking Horse
3.0 Draft Horses
Draft horses are named from the Old English word “dragan,” which means to draw or haul. These horses are large and very heavy, meant to be a working animal equipped to do hard work. Their tasks included things like plowing the fields and hauling heavy carriages or wagons.
Draft horses are pretty versatile and often thought of as cold-blood horses. They often have relaxed temperaments that make them easy to work with and train. They are easily recognized as very tall horses that have a muscular, beefy build. They typically weigh between 1,400 and 2,000 lbs (640 to 910 kgs).
3.1 Shire
The Shire horse is one of the most beautiful draft horses and one of the rarest due to its low populations. The breed is close to extinction. After the invention of the engine, many of its uses were cut short, and they became worth much less.
The Shire horse still holds the record for being the tallest horse in the world. On average, they stand somewhere between 16 to 18 hands high at the withers. That means they tower over most people. Their build is close to the more familiar Clydesdale horses.
We have the British shires to thank for the development of the Shire horses. It is believed that the famed British Great Horse was the ancestor of the Shire horse, but nobody can be sure. They are commonly black, gray, bay, or brown, the UK breed standard not allowing chestnut colors.
The Shire horse’s claim to fame is their incredible strength. In the 1920s, a pair of Shire horses were reported to have pulled a load that was more than 45 tons. Onlookers couldn’t determine the exact amount over 45 since it exceeded the scale. Regardless of this strength and stature, they are very easygoing and calm.
3.2 Clydesdale
A Clydesdale looks very similar to the Shire horse but is better known because of Budweiser ads. They were made famous because of the horse-drawn Budweiser carriages they would feature.
Clydesdales have a bulky stature, a high-stepping gait, and feathering around their legs that is distinctive. Although they are so large, they are also quite gentle, laidback and trainable.
Clydesdales were first developed in Scotland in the Lanarkshire district in the late 18th century. They got their name from the River Clyde running through the area. Machinery is to thank for replacing these incredible equine giants. With that transition came a decrease in their population.
Clydesdales stand between 16 and 18 hands high. Their coat is most often bay, but registries also accept gray, black, and chestnut.
3.3 Friesian
Friesian horses are stunning horses. It is usual for them to have a black coat and thick tails and manes. They are often used as a horse for any experience of rider, from beginners to advanced.
Friesian horses can also be warmblood horses since they are not as large as a typical draft horse. They also have spunkier personalities than most draft horses do.
Friesians stand between 15.3 to 17 hands high and have a muscled body with strong hindquarters. They have long necks that make them look incredibly elegant. Friesian horses make excellent dressage and riding horses. Originally they were used as a warehouse because they aren’t easily spooked. They are also social and highly trainable.
3.4 Percheron
The Percheron horse is another one of the gentle giants belonging to the equine world. They were warhorses, workhorses and trained on the competitive horse-pull circuit.
The Percheron came out of the Perche province in France, although not much more is known about their origin. Most experts believe that the horses came about because of a cross between Barb horses and Flemish draft breeds. There was also some Arabian thrown into the mix.
Percherons have coats in colors of sorrel, black, gray, bay, roan, and chestnut. White markings are allowed, but not in excess. Percherons don’t have the leg feathering like a Clydesdale or a Shire horse. They still stand between 16 and 17 hands high.
3.5 Other Draft Breeds
- American Cream Draft
- Dutch Draft
- Fjord
- Freiberger
- Haflinger
- Irish Draft
- Jutland
- Latvian
- Noriker
- North Swedish Horse
- South German Coldblood
- Suffolk Horse
- Vladimir Heavy Draft
4.0 Small Horses
There is some argument between horses that are a small horse type and a pony. The idea is that the pony is between 100 and 800 pounds (45 to 362 kgs), and a small breed is separated from them, ranging from 600 to 800 pounds (272 to 362 kgs).
There aren’t many horses that fall into small horses. The Fjord and Icelandic Horse are two of the most common.
4.1 Fjord Horse
A Fjord Horse, which also goes by the Norwegian Fjord, is a small but strong horse breed. They come from the mountains in western Norway and are an agile breed. They have what is thought of as a “light draught” build, meaning they are pretty thick and muscled but small.
All Fjord horses are a dun color, with only five variations of the shade recognized. The horse is another of the world’s oldest breeds. they have been used on farms in Norway for hundreds of years. In some areas that are high enough to make machinery difficult, they are still farmworkers.
The Fjord horse has a long, thick main, but owners clip them into a short, distinctive crescent shape. They stand anywhere from 13.1 to 14.3 hands high. Overall, the Fjord horse has a reputation for a good temperament, although they can be pretty stubborn.
4.2 Icelandic Horse
Icelandic horses have a fascinating history that dates back to Viking times. They deserve to be put into a different category with few others since their bloodlines have been protected for centuries. It isn’t legal for any other horse breed to come into Iceland,, and if an Icelandic horse leaves, it cannot come back again.
Vikings brought these horses to the mostly destitute island of Iceland back in the 8th century. As they started to populate the area, they need horses to help them. These breeds mixed and became the Icelandic horse all those centuries ago. Since then, Icelandic law protects them fiercely, giving them one of the purest bloodlines in the world.
The Icelandic horse only stands between 12 and 14 hands high. they have five gaits, unlike the three that most other horses have. They also have a luscious double coat to protect them from the harsh climate of Iceland.
These horses have beautiful temperaments. They are easy to handle, love being around people and are very docile.
4.3 Other Small Breeds
- Paso Fino
- Peruvian Paso
5.0 Pony Horses
Ponies are separated somewhat subjectively from horses. There is no clear answer of what always makes a pony a pony instead of a horse. The breed standard has to stand lower than 14.2 hands. They also tend to have thicker manes and tails than horses with shorter legs and heads but thick necks.
Ponies are notable for their overall temperament of gentleness and endurance. Many of them come from challenging climates, which makes them appear more rugged than most horses.
5.1 Connemara
The Connemara pony is another fantastic breed originating from Ireland. They came out of County Galway, an area on the west coast. It is full of wild countryside, filled with peat bogs, rugged coastline and mountains. Settlers needed the pony for stable movement between regions.
Nobody knows for sure from which breeds the Connemara originates. The theory is that Vikings brought them and used them as warhorses.
Since then, Andalusian blood was brought into the line when a Spanish Armada grounded on the coast of Ireland. Other horses like Thoroughbreds, Hackneys, and Arabians were bred with them. It all stopped in the 20th century so their bloodline wouldn’t become too diluted.
Connemara ponies are surprisingly agile for a pony that doesn’t stand very tall. They compete at FEI levels of eventing, dressage and even showjumping. They suit all kinds of riders, from children to professionals.
5.2 New Forest
The New Forest pony lives in the forest of Hampshire. They are a semiferal breed that we could also include in the Wild type of horse. Most of them are domestic at this point.
These ponies are ancient. The first recording of them in the forest was in 1016. There have been Arabians, Fell, Highland, Exmoor, Dartmoor and Welsh blood mixed into the breed. Since 1930, there hasn’t been any outside blood introduced into the breed to keep them pure.
These ponies stand between 12 and 14.2 hands high. They can be any color except Skewbald and Piebald. They are excellent personalities which makes them well-loved. They are docile, intelligent, and quite friendly. As such, they make excellent riding and driving ponies.
5.3 Shetland
Shetland ponies are one of the most well-known pony breeds to the general public. Shetlands are strong ponies, gentle, and quite intelligent. They might be adorable, but that doesn’t mean you should doubt their capability to work hard.
Shetland ponies are excellent for young riders to learn since they only stand between 7 and 11.5 hands high. They get their name from their native lands. As far as 4,000 years ago, ponies roamed the Shetland Islands off the Scottish coast. Their Stud-Book was formed in 1890 to keep better track of the breed.
Shetlands are gentle and a bit wily. They will keep your child on their toes while standing face to face with them. Shetlands can come in almost every color. Many times, they will have a pinto color combination. The only color they can’t be is leopard-spotted.
5.4 Fell
When you see a picture of a Shetland Pony next to a Fell Pony, you wouldn’t guess that researchers would put them into the same group. The Fell Pony is elegant and stunning. They are a versatile breed that came out of the moors of northern England.
These horses are a working breed. Since they come from rugged terrain in the mountains and moors of Cumbria, they are accustomed to rugged conditions. They are closely related to the Dales Pony but slightly smaller. They both share the ancestor, the Galloway Pony, which is now extinct.
The most common color on this pony is black. The ponies have long, thick black manes and tails along with feathering on their legs. The Fell Pony can also have bay, brown, chestnut, and grey colors. They might also have a star on their head.
5.5 Other Pony Breeds
- Haflinger
- Dales
- Pony of Americas
- Quarter Pony
- Welsh
6.0 Wild Horses
Few horse breeds are still considered genuinely wild. These four are among the few left in the world that are still somewhat feral. It is somewhat challenging to determine what makes a horse wild anymore since almost every inch of land has an owner.
Wild horses are those that have always been wild. they have roamed the same area in a mix of herds for hundreds if not thousands of years. The Mongolian Przewalski can claim this title. Other horses, like Mustangs, are called feral since they descend from domesticated horses, even if they roam now.
6.1 Mongolian Przewalski Horse
The Przewalski horse is the last truly wild horse. They are sometimes thought to be a different species, called Equus przewalskii. Mitochondrial DNA suggests that domesticated horse breeds and the Przewalski horse diverged. They shared a common ancestor over 500,000 years ago.
These horses are called “takhi” in Mongolia, which means “spirit” when translated. They once ranged throughout Europe and Asia. Competition with humans, livestock, and climate change pushed them into areas like Mongolia.
These horses are small and stocky, typically standing 12.9 to 15 hands high. They only weigh between 550 and 800 lbs (250 to 360 kgs). They are dun-colored and have an almost zebra-like erect mane. The main has a dark stripe down the middle.
6.2 Mustang
Mustangs descend from scaped Spanish horses that were once domesticated. Spanish explorers brought them to the Americas in the 16th century. Nowadays, you still find herds roaming free in the western U.S., but some have been captured and domesticated.
Most Mustangs are protected, depending on the area the herd lives. Conservation groups like those we mentioned above protect their heritage. They work to stop them from being captured and domesticated.
Interestingly, the word “mustang” comes from a Spanish word. The word “ustengo” means “ownerless or stray horse.”
6.3 Brumby
Brumby horses are feral horses living in Australia. They live in the Australian Alps throughout Southeastern Australia. These horses are not native to Australia. Similar to the Mustang, they were imported by Europeans only to escape and roaming free.
Before that point in the 1800s, there were no native horses due to the harsh environment of the continent. Brumbies are resilient animals and have adapted to the habitat. They now exist in all Australia’s territories, except Tasmania.
Populations of these horses have been growing fast. They have no natural predators in Australia. There have been talks about controlling the growing population. They have begun to do extensive damage to the landscape.
6.4 Welsh Pony
The Welsh Pony also called the Welsh Mountain Pony, is a highly adaptable pony. They are a popular horse for show rings since they have got a flashy style, with long mains and feathered legs. There are many domesticated Welsh Ponies, but there are still those that have maintained feral populations. Most Welsh Ponies are only semi-feral due to their proximity to humans.
These ponies have lived in Wales for thousands of years. They almost became extinct during King Henry VIII’s attempt to kill all horses of small stature to improve horse breeding. Since there is a variety of breeding and feral types, the Welsh Pony Registry has four sections for accepting the ponies.
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Interesting Facts About Horses
1| Domestic horses live for an average of 25 years.
There is quite a range between the expected lifespans for horses and ponies. Lifespan is breed dependant for the most part. As long as a horse gets the proper care and diet, they should live around the breed average.
Most domesticated horses live for about 25 years. That isn’t always true, though. For example, a horse in North America called Old Billy lived for 62 years. There are tales of a horse born in 1760 that worked for a Navigation until 1819. He died a couple of years later at the ripe age of 62 years old.
2| Horses sleep both standing up and lying down.
Horses can rest in almost any position they want. That includes standing up and lying down. When they lay down, they do it the same way many other livestock animals do. When they rest standing up, they use a unique method.
Horses uniquely use their muscles and bones called the “stay apparatus” when they want to sleep. Effectively, they stand on three legs and rest on one. They shift their weight around as each leg needs to sleep.
Horses only reach their deepest sleep when they lay down. They just don’t need to do that half as much as other animals and humans do.
3| Humans started domesticating horses around 5,000 years ago.
Humans have integrated horses into their lives for thousands of years. Current archeological digs and studies have found that it is likely even earlier than we used to think. Archaeologists now say that horse domestication likely began in Kazakstan about 5,500 years ago.
4| We measure a horse’s height in hands.
Due to the ancient domestication of horses, the way we measure horse height is unique. Back in those ancient times, humans didn’t have standard measuring tools. Instead, they used their hands to measure horses.
Even today, that tradition carries on and has been displayed throughout the article. One hand is about 4 inches long since average humans were much smaller than nowadays.
