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Previous Issues > December 2006 > Wildville! > Horses
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 Wildville!
Horses
Horse
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Perissodactyla
Family: Equidae
Genus: Equus
Species: Equus caballus
December 9 is the National Day of the Horse! Because these magnificent animals have been such an important part of the history of our nation and the lives of humans, the U.S. Senate and the California State Legislature have set aside a special day in honor of them.
No one knows exactly when people and horses first became companions. But there is no doubt that once humans tamed the horse, it became a valuable part of their life. Horses helped people move and settle in new places, helped them work the land and farm and helped them hunt. Horses swiftly carried people, for pleasure, for sport and for war.
 There are many different breeds of horse, and they come in many different colors and sizes. In general, horse is a large animal. It can weigh 1,000 pounds or more. It stands about 5.5 feet high at the shoulder. The horse is about 9 feet long from the tip of its nose to its tail. Its legs are strong and muscular, yet slender. A horses foot is really a single toe, and the hoof is a thick toenail.
The horse has big beautiful eyes its eyes are larger than those of any other land animal. It has excellent long-range vision both at night and in the daytime. Each eye can see things above and below, behind and in front. And each eye can see things separately.
The horse also has a nose with wide, flaring nostrils. It gets all of its air through its nasal passages; it does not breath through its mouth or pant.
A baby horse is called a foal. If it is male, it is called a colt. A female is a filly. Females four years and older are called mares, and males are stallions.
Sources: Britannica Student Encyclopedia, Encyclopedia Brittanica Online; Wikipedia, horse.
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