Essay, Research Paper
HORSES
(Swiftness)
The horses habitat depends on the type of horse, there are two types
of horses. One is the standard horses which is commonly used for pleasure
riding,showing, and rodeo (saddle bronc, bronc, barrel racing, roping, and
gymcana.) This type of horse’s habitat is usually on someone’s ranch or farm.
They are kept either in a stable or out on pasture for grazing. The other
kind
of horse is the Mustang, being quite smaller than the standard horse, lives
out
on the plains, or mountains. There is not really a range for standard horses
because they are confined to an area such as their pasture. The Mustang a
very large range, depending on how much land there is. But the larger the
herd the greater the distance they will travel looking for food or water.
Classification of the horse;
Kingdom; Animalia All animals
Phylum; Chordata Backbone.
Class; Mammalia Warm blooded, hairy,
produce live young
Order; Perissodactyla Non ruminant, hoofed
mammal
Family; Equidae Horse family
Genus; Equus Zebra, Assas, horses
Species; Equus Cabllus Horses only
The horse is a herbivore and their main food sources are grain, grass
(hay) , and oats. Horses need extensive amounts of vitamins, minerals, and
proteins to stay their healthiest. They get those from the food that their
owner
gives them, or from the grasses and weeds that they eat. But if they are not
getting all they need, producers have additives, or salt licks for the horse.
Horses are pray to some animals, the standard horse are usually
not hunted. But wild horses such as mustangs, or zebras are pray. They are
fairly high on the food chain. The animals the commonly attach wild horses
are lions, cheetah, and alligators.
The gestation period is eleven months and a day (average). The actual
birthing takes only a short time usually about 15 to 30 minutes. Normally a
foal is born with its front feet first. The newborn foal rests for about 10
or 15
minutes, then tries to get up and is soon it can stand. Within a few hours
after
birth the foal is able to walk, or run quite well on its gangly legs. The
legs
of a newborn foal are almost as long as those of it’s mothers, and grow only
slightly during the horse’s lifetime. The rest of it’s body develops and the
muscles of the legs become large and strong, but the big bones of the legs
remain about the same size.
Though it usually has grown to full height several years before, a horse is
considered to be mature at seven years of age. The litter size is normally
one
foal, it is very uncommon to have twins, but if it does happen the foals will
be
very small and unhealthy.
Did you know that the Thoroughbred is the fastest horse, it can go up
to speeds of 40 to 45 mph. It is also the one that can run the longest at
those
speeds. The Thoroughbred has the second largest registered association.