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Horses
Introduction

They gallop and trot, whinny and neigh, capturing our imagination — and our hearts. Indeed, horses are said to have done more to change human history than any other domestic animal, once upon a time carrying explorers to new frontiers and mighty armies to great conquests.

Though their glory days may be in the past, these hoofed creatures continue to enthrall us, as the NATURE program HORSES demonstrates in sparkling detail. From the steppes of Mongolia, where children race at breakneck speeds perched on stallions ten times their size, to the fields of Georgia, where people confined to wheelchairs find new freedom in the saddle, HORSES highlights the many roles played by this multi-talented beast of burden. There are also rare glimpses of the world’s most endangered horse, and an inside look at the art of the horse whisperers, the trainers who through their gentle touch can transform a wild bucking bronco into a stately show horse.

But the star of the show is the animal that scientists call Equus caballus, the modern horse species that includes everything from miniature Shetland ponies to massive draft horses able to pull astounding loads. The horse we know today, however, evolved from an ancestor that was quite different.

More than 50 million years ago, a small fox-sized animal crept through the forests of North America, browsing on fruit and leaves. Its arched-back body was only about a foot high at the shoulder, and a long tail and short-snouted head probably gave it a distinctly dog-like look. In fact, its feet sported pads like a dog’s, except each toe ended in a tiny hoof instead of a claw. Interestingly, in modern horses, one toe has become the hoof, and the others remain as vestigial bumps higher up the leg.

When fossil hunters first discovered the bones of this creature a century ago, they named it Eohippus — “the dawn horse” — and believed it was the first link in an evolutionary chain that led directly to today’s horse. Indeed, many museums and textbooks still have displays and pictures showing this neat, predictable progression, with horses gradually getting larger, shifting from many toes to modern hooves, and gaining longer teeth able to grind down tough prairie grasses.

These days, however, researchers have a far more complex picture of horse evolution — and they have given the dawn horse a much less colorful name. While they agree that today’s horse probably arose from that smaller ancestor, the path was by no means direct. Instead, paleontologists have uncovered fossils that show that horse ancestors varied in size: some large early horses gave way later to smaller ones. They also discovered that some lines of horse-like animals alternated between many and few toes over time. In addition, some proto-horses once thought to be direct forefathers of the modern animals were revealed to be distantly related cousins — just one dead-end branch on a bushy family tree.

One branch, however, kept growing. About a million years ago, it produced an array of small pony-sized animals that galloped across ancient plains around the world in large herds. They probably behaved much as today’s wild horses do, using their flowing tails as remarkably accurate fly swatters and signal flags, and snorting the air for the smell of enemies and the scent of food.

Less than 10,000 years ago, however, many of these horse-like species became extinct, along with other browsing animals such as mammoths. Climate changes and over-hunting by humans may have been to blame, but no one knows for sure. The only survivors were horses in Asia and several zebras. In North America, however, horses were wiped out.

So where did the modern horses come from, the ones that spawned America’s cowboy myth? Historians believe that Spanish explorers brought the animals with them on their voyages to the New World in the 1500s. Let loose upon the land, they soon reclaimed the prairies that had once been theirs alone, producing vast herds of wild horses.

Even today, as HORSES shows, tens of thousands of wild horses roam the American West. To prevent the herds from destroying their habitat, the U.S. government captures hundreds each year and puts them up for adoption. For some of the proud new owners, the chance to ride a wild-born horse is a dream come true — and the continuation of an age-old relationship that has made the horse one of our most revered and fascinating animal partners.

Online content for Horses was originally posted November 1999.

264 Responses to “Introduction”
  1. Jessie says:

    WOW! I really think this is interesting and very informative. Thank, I din’t know many of the things mentioned, thanks again!!!

  2. Kinsey says:

    I love wild horses becuse they are pretty horses and i like there manes and tails

  3. mimi says:

    i love horses because they are so beutiful and nice

  4. Todger says:

    I LOVE HORSES TODGERS

  5. ANGELA says:

    HELLO I LOV HORES I HAVE A STUD HIS NAME IS MR.ED LOL
    ~~~~~~~~~~~COUNTRY GIRL~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  6. Karrington says:

    hey i love horse she is a phillie it’s a girl and she is pregant im about to have a nother horse exept it’s gona be a baby duh!

  7. mimi says:

    i have 54 horses and half of them our wild

  8. amy says:

    I LOVE HORSES!

  9. Bella Hauck says:

    Horses are the best!!!! I love horses!!!! They are the best thing I have ever thought of!!!!!! I can not wait till I get a horse. It will be the best time I ever ever had! Did you know that a filly is a baby female horse and a foal is a male horse.

    Bella

  10. Atefeh Mohammadi says:

    i love horses!!!!they are cool thanks i learnt lots about them bye ceya

  11. amy huaks says:

    i love horses they r the best creatures on earth…they r soo cool !!! thnx i learned everything and i got wat i needed…thnx agn !

  12. mohamad says:

    wow…i didnt think abt horses aloot but wen i read this… it sooo awesome thanks alooot i love horses !!!!!

  13. mimo says:

    i hv 55 horses in my farm…half of them r wild but they r sooo coooool btw…wild horses r more bueatiful than the normal horses ! :P

  14. bella tsunami says:

    i hate horses they r sooo yuckyy they always play wid mud like PIGS !!!! i hate them they r soo silly wats wrong wid u pple ??!!!! eeeewwww

  15. unkown says:

    donkeys r btr than horses

  16. Harley Rowell says:

    No, they are not I think that Horses are the best animals in the world!!!!

  17. nora says:

    I agree. horses rock!!!!! they are like me and my friend Molly’s life. we wouldn’t know what to do without them! What about you peoples?

  18. Ban jonson says:

    Nice Article Post !!!

  19. shea says:

    i love riding my horse lucky. and horses are my favorite animal. my favorite horse is the great stallion.

  20. Ban jonson says:

    Very Nice Article Post !!!

  21. kendra says:

    horses are nice.

  22. tiana says:

    i like the information that is given but i think u need more info about the horses and their climate,food sources and more thank you so much

  23. Shaylyn says:

    I like information that is given but i think you need some more like what do they eat,how old can they live sources like that

  24. Tiffany says:

    I have 3 horses 2 are Mayers and 1 that is just a solid Black and the Black horse is wild and i would like to brake it….. Would you please give me Information about it…..

  25. jerenikia smith says:

    I Love horses with all my herat how about you

  26. susie says:

    horses are awesome!! take from the redneck!!!

  27. Skittles says:

    OMG u guys all rock i mean who doseint like horses i love them so much and plan to get a buckskin

  28. Arianna Bos says:

    I think horses are amazing i am doing a class newspaper and this is a great info. for it.Im 9 and i have 2 horses ,a palimino and a morgan COWGIRL!!!!!!

  29. shay Holton says:

    i lovvvvvvvvvve horses!! i love to ride them! they’re sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo cooooooool!!!!!!!!

  30. Adrienne says:

    I love horses more than anybody on here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  31. Treenie says:

    I LOVE HORSES!!! My grandparents rescue them http://www.doxyshorserecovery.org I help out and i have 2 of my own!

  32. Sammy says:

    Horses r so cool i have 2!!!!!!1

  33. Shelbi says:

    I have 3 paint horses!! I am homed schooled just so i can ride them every day all day long. THeir names are triXI BELLA AND WILLIE! I LOVE HORSES!!!

  34. Meagan says:

    I LOVE HORSES.I have like 4 of my own.Streak,zandy alix,sunset cowgirl.& CD. (QH’s only)

  35. Sadia says:

    next time give intersting facts and i luv horses n dat was boring to read

  36. 1998Squidster says:

    I luv horses but i hated that it was so bad itis the worst

  37. Mark Matthew says:

    He spoke them into existance, with the ability to evolve with there enviroment.

  38. Tori says:

    i have 3 horses one is black the other ones are brown. there names are larz, pasha, and dunnit.

  39. Miranda says:

    i have 5 horses. and one is a baby!!!!!!!

  40. baby smurf aka michaela says:

    omg !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    im a horse acholic i have 1 her name is magic and i love her to death

  41. baby smurf aka michaela says:

    she is a full bread racing horse but i dont enter her in any comp b/c she is to old

  42. joey boy says:

    i tink horseeessse are berry berry prettuful!!!! i wish i had a million billion ponies!

  43. Country girl says:

    Okay so i read this and it is a great source…im doing a I-search for english and my topic is horses…when i was a little girl i read so many books about horse…i dreamed i owned my own horse and name her…annie…like the movie…all my life so far ive wanted a horse my ma said on my 16 birthday i might be able to get a horse…ive been working at a farm down the road from my house and the horses there are very lovely…they are 2 old ladys 1 is dieing of cancer if you have any more tips for me before my 16 birthday on november 10 send me comments heres my email bberg@hfcsd.org thanks you inspired me more…….Love Brianna ~-*Country Girl 4Life*-~
    ^_^Horses Rukle

  44. Country Girl says:

    i ment rule not rukle

  45. paul pettit says:

    Above bella was wrong about foal being a male baby horse.. all baby horses are foals.. but a female is a filly, and a male is a colt.. and the are filly and colt till about 4, then it is a mare, and a stallion or gelding. I raise arabians, have for 30 years.. foal is general for a young horse, usually under 6 months old.

  46. ryan says:

    I love horses, i have always wanted a horse they’re my favourite animal, i don’t have enough money, i am a 9 year old boy, and i am saving for a horse of my own.

  47. Brandon says:

    ya they are fun and they are a bunch of money but they are worth it.

  48. ladimond says:

    horses are amazing they are cool to pet and they are so freaking cute i love them don’t you

  49. jerica huscher says:

    i love horses whin i was a litte girl my mom put me on a horse that is whin i like them

  50. JERICA says:

    i love horses

  51. amiria says:

    horses r very cool

  52. amiria says:

    hey la’dimond wat up
    lol

  53. amiria says:

    horses are nice cool

  54. Bella:) says:

    I love horses they arent just beautiul there amazing and wonderful my horses understands me better then anybody and iam loking hat my horse loves me so much cause horses are more then a pet or a sorce they are our freinds and they need respect and that is why my horse loves me and understands me so much:)

  55. amiria says:

    horses r cool

  56. donaisha says:

    horses r very pretty and i love them

  57. Unknow says:

    Horse are lame

  58. Uncared says:

    who made horses? and why they are a waste of life

  59. EekerBabe69 says:

    Sux it!

  60. nicole says:

    i love horses lt is sad that a lot of them die and then they use the hourse tail for a part of the vialinea

  61. unknow says:

    i love horses horses r soo cool

  62. Emily says:

    I love horses a lot! im sad when they die. It makes me want to cry!!!

  63. Nay Nay says:

    dat was so boring. horses are not foxes. sheesh.lets have something interesting peeps

  64. ryan says:

    horses are cool

  65. jojo says:

    i love horses too! i’m nuts about them! i have two ponies and i’m in the pony trots victoria! horses rule! YEH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  66. taylor says:

    i love this article its very interesting to me and kets me know alot about horses>thanks<

  67. Alex says:

    horses

  68. kaley says:

    i love hourses their the best ya!!!!

  69. dylan says:

    i love horses so cutee

  70. Bill Clinton says:

    edit me all you want but YOU are at a loss with such statements.

  71. blond cow girl!!!!!!!! says:

    I absolutly LOVE horses!!!!! they rock my socks off my feet!!!!!!!Go Horses!!!!!!!!!lol

  72. Alex says:

    omg this website is amazing i love this article it is just the kind of information that i need for my public speaking class. =^.^=

  73. kayla says:

    i have 5 horses and gonna have 6 in april. he was my first ponie iv ever had. he is funny but anyway i have 2 quarter horses and 1 paint and 2 thourogh breds and gonna get my piant back agian i luv horses!

  74. milton burse says:

    i love horses we have 4 of them in they are like a dream come true

  75. Ariel says:

    I LOVE HORSES!!!!!!! They are the bests animal in the WORLD!!!!Thanks for the info!!!!!!! {I am country!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!}

  76. Anna says:

    I LOVE <3 horses because their body structure is amazing and how they glide across an open feild is so beautiful and gracefull

  77. Carmen says:

    I love horses so much!!!! i love to ride horses all day long!!!!!!!

  78. Carmen says:

    HORSES ARE MR LIFE!!!!!! I 3 HORSES AND 1 IS A BABY MARE!!!!! I TRAIN HIM ALL ADT LONG!!!!!

  79. Hannah Miller says:

    I Love Horeses!!!!!! I have 6 of my own. HORSES ROCK

    ~~~~~Horse crazy~~~~~

  80. kayla crocker says:

    hey i have 3 horses and i love them

  81. Taylor Fletcher says:

    I love horses if I could be a horse I so would!!!!!

  82. Zoe Magill Fair says:

    I think horses are the best!!! I’m going to get one some day!

  83. lola says:

    horses are awsome. wow wow wow

  84. Hayley says:

    i just got two horses that i am in love with them! good luck with your horses everyone

  85. Hayley says:

    i just got two horses that i am in love with them! good luck with your horses everyone

  86. Julia says:

    i LOVE horses.can you ppl give me some edvice on how to convince my parents to get me a horse?ty, everyone that loves horses rock!!!!!!:):):)

  87. Julia says:

    P.S I AM HORSE CCCCCCCCRRRRRRAAAAZZZZYYYYY!

  88. Julia says:

    P.S I AM HORSE CCCCCCCCRRRRRRAAAAZZZZYYYYY! ARNT U PPL!!!!:):):)

  89. rachel says:

    i love all of my horses that i have.

  90. rachel says:

    hay i hove 6 horses and i love them so mcuh.

  91. Katie Lindgren says:

    omg..okay i dont have any but my relatives and my best friend does and love them!!!!

  92. christin fletcher says:

    ilovehorese and my bf has !2 and two of them are mine and named after me!! ilovehimandhorses!!!!!

  93. melissa says:

    i love horses so much they naa my heart out!!!!
    heres my e-mail:melissamackay47@yahoo.ca
    can you send me somme good horse pics please!!!!!!!!!!!!

  94. Estefania Scioville says:

    I love horses so much, and I’m saving up money to buy one when I get older and when I have a farm!

  95. patricia reynolds says:

    i strted riding horse,s when i was 9 yrs. old. they are very beautiful animal. one of Gods gifts of beauty he has provided for us. but i always wondered why some are sway back. could you e-mail me some information on this. thank you so very much. thank you, patricia

  96. Kenzie says:

    i LLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
    your horses

  97. Shiloh says:

    i love horses so i really love this

  98. lakota says:

    i can not beleive it they are so cute

  99. amanda finley says:

    ilove horsesssssss becase they are so ppppretty and cute i jist llllllllllove horsys i llllllllllllllloooooooooooovvvvvvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeeeeyour horses they are so cute

  100. amanda finley says:

    ilove horsesssssss becase they are so ppppretty and cute i jist llllllllllove horsys i llllllllllllllloooooooooooovvvvvvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeeee your horses they are so cute they are so cute and funny hahaha“

  101. Andrea :] says:

    WOW whoever says horses are a waste! your wrong.. horses are amazing animals.. I LOVE THEM! great artical.

  102. hannahyy303 says:

    i love horses so much i go horse ridding evey week horses horses horses horses horses horses horses

  103. Cupcake159 says:

    Horses are so cool!!!!! i am not into them a lot, but they are beautiful animals!!! lol:)

  104. Katie J says:

    I love horses they are the best thing in the world!!!!!!!

  105. Kelly K says:

    They rock and i know so much about HORSES I go riding all the time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  106. Yamina says:

    I love horses!!!!! They re great!!! My favorites are white and black ones.

  107. ashly says:

    thise website rules

  108. Leigh Shreves says:

    I believe horses become apart of you when riding. Riding in open fields is aewsome-I hope that everyone can experience it.

  109. Shiane says:

    Ilove horses.Your article is cool!!!!

  110. Madison says:

    I dont have any horses, but i wish I did after reading this article!!!!

  111. I rock so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! says:

    I rock so much and so do Horses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  112. Lin Huiwen says:

    I love horses! Their so war and cute! I’ve ride them in the zoo and they make a nice sound with their feet as they trot! Its mane is so soft and silky! You know you should try to learn how to comunicate with horse!

  113. Rock ON!!!! says:

    I loved your article it was so good and i really want a horsey.

  114. mee says:

    i love the pics

  115. jessieb says:

    um… hi you know i have been with horses all my life and they stink:) but the truth is dat i love horses!! really lots and i had 24 horses and now we sold out because my grandparents cant handle them its to hard… but yeah things are cool so are horses:):):)

  116. creason twist says:

    I LOve Horses There Very Cool And Fun To Ride..

  117. Cheyenne says:

    i really love horse because they are so graceful and majestic

  118. Mocha says:

    Horses are the most beautiful animals I have ever seen. I have always loved them and I always will.

  119. jayson says:

    i have 3 horses on my farm and i love to raid when i read this passage it put more on my mine. tahnks jaysom

  120. Jamilee says:

    Gosh i love reading about cloud everyday and seeing him on PBS kids every year!!! It makes me want ot have a horse to ride again!

  121. gary says:

    Hello. I’m a horse. How are you?

  122. jessica says:

    i love horses so much i used to have some but we had to sell all sevn of them but i still want more horses than anything in the whole wide world

  123. gary says:

    hi jessica. i am a brown horse. nice to meet you. i am very shiny as well.

  124. white horse says:

    hi horse!

  125. Erin Baileyi Filly says:

    This post, I really like it. I work with captive wolves, although they are still wild. I also research wild horses, and all of your comments really suck about them. “I like horses because they are the prettiest on the planet” come on. Well, I like them because they are intelligent, gentle creatures, and ready to learn when you treat them right. And, Nature, I really like your program! Please put a little more shows on about wolves and horses, and maybe lepords, because the El Lobo film, after I watched it I was sick for a week and heartbroken, but it changed the way that I thought of the wolves when I walked in Jack’s cage. (The captive wild wolves I work with.) Please, this is a really great program and I wouldn’t mind learning more about animals all over the world, and I exspecially liked the Red Knot and Horseshoe Crab film that was show last night. I hope the scientists succed in what they are doing. Thank you for making this program, Nature!

  126. nonyobiz says:

    I love horses. My favorite horse is what I call a “Indian Horse” or a paint. They are so different in their own way. I adore them.

  127. jackie says:

    i adore horses they are so darn cute

  128. laura says:

    i think horses r the best. i dont hve 1 but my friend does. she is a brown & white fillie. she is ssssssssssssooooooooooooooooooooo perdy

  129. ~~Cowgirl~~ says:

    okay for some of those who got this wrong a filly is a girl horse under 4 years old. A colt is a uncut boy horse under 4 years old. a gelding is a cut boy horse any age! a stud is an uncut boy horse over 4 years old. and a mare is a girl horse over 4 years old!

    ~~~country~girl~~~

  130. ~~Cowgirl~~ says:

    and a foal is an undetermined girl or boy!

  131. Tomboy says:

    I lllllllllloooooooooooovvvvvvveeeeeeee horses so much. They are ssssssssssooooooooo beautiful and fun to ride. My family owns 5 horses and we can only ride one becuase one is an Arabian, the other is a palomino, Domino is an appaloosa, Stormy is half quarter horse and half Appaloosa, Dutchess is a quarter horse.

  132. Tomboy says:

    When said we can only ride one that was an Arabian it was because everytime someone takes her for a ride she always comes home riderless.

  133. Rhiannon says:

    I love horses!! They are the coolest animals alive!!:) :) :) :)

  134. heather says:

    YA horses are the best i do barrel and ride in mountains i used to have 11 but we sold some now i have 5 my mare just had a baby a year ago she is a gaogeouse baby paint

  135. rafael says:

    we love horses because we have two in mexico

  136. Lexi says:

    I Love Horses!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have two buttercup and Daisy.

  137. Chelsea says:

    wow reading these comments make me laugh

  138. meaghan says:

    I have 5 Rachel Alexandra(yes the race horse) and Ozzy a western pony (boy)
    Cherokee (wild western mare) Smutt (western gelding) and Slash(Cherokee’s
    1 week old filly

  139. meaghan says:

    SPLASH NOT SLASH

  140. olivia says:

    i love horses but i don’t own eney but my b.f.f own’s two

  141. jira says:

    simply… the best!

  142. Faith says:

    I DON’T HAVE A HORSE BUT WE USED TO . I LOVE HORSES AND THE KENTUCKY DURBY . I ALSO TAKE RIDING LESSONS.

  143. Lissie says:

    I luv horses!

  144. Andrea says:

    horses rock:)!****

  145. gabriella says:

    I detest horses beause it’s stink

  146. sarah says:

    I love horses and I have 5

  147. ambria c. bernard says:

    hi,I love horses so much that I can scream so exitedly.
    I have 3 horses.1 is a mare,1 is a colt,and 1 is a
    girl foal.I never knew that some horses can have blue
    eyes,also.Thank you so,so much.

  148. horseygirl says says:

    i LOVE horses and there SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOO CUTE.can you belive how small they were

  149. alexis w. says:

    I’m so so so so so so in love with horses. I have 15 horses!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  150. frank says:

    I love horses to got two good horses

  151. Yasmine & Yanese says:

    I llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllove HORSES!!!! me and my twin sister always love HORSES but sadly we dont have one. But we still love them.

  152. charlie says:

    i saw a horse i fell in love whith but we don’t live on a farm

  153. Taylor says:

    i love horses i have 4 ginger is a mare she is part
    quarter horse/peruvian paso fino and 17 hands tall she is huge and flicka a mare a peruvian paso fino 15 hands tall and banjo a gelding 14.5 hands tall a cob and bandit a shetland pony 3 hands tall

  154. Bobert says:

    Kaitlyn and Emily….. RULE!

  155. KO KO says:

    You to Bobert

  156. Bobert says:

    peace to the world. Chocolate is AWESOME!

  157. KO KO says:

    I Love you Bobert!!

  158. carlee says:

    hi

  159. Bobert says:

    Hi carlee!

  160. carlee says:

    you guys are weard

  161. ko ko says:

    hello EARTHLINGS WE COME IN PEACE!!!!

  162. gogo says:

    talk to me

  163. gogo says:

    omg

  164. rere says:

    you spelt weird wrong!!!!!

  165. gogo says:

    emily kaitlyn talk to me

  166. Bobert says:

    BYE ROBOT WE HAVE TO GET 2 WORK NOW BYE !! PEACE!!

  167. carlee says:

    talk to me !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  168. carlee says:

    i dont know what to do ?

  169. CARLEE says:

    I Stink

  170. tina says:

    Yes you do know what to i told you twice .you have to make a book.you do stink

  171. sam says:

    i just love horse i have my own horse his name is choco and chocolate

  172. Laurel says:

    I love horses so much!I have been taking riding
    lessons for 2 and a half years.

  173. pinaz says:

    i love horses i want to live with them

  174. looloo says:

    i love horses i wish i could have a hurd of them

  175. Emily says:

    I love horses i wish i had 1

  176. samantha says:

    I think that the arabs from egypt are sooooo beautiful because i have seen one up close before.

  177. Maddie says:

    Bella, A filly IS a girl but a foal is a term used to describe both sexes. Colt is the term used to describe a baby male.

  178. Kari says:

    #14, you sepciesist. Horses are beautiful animals, intelligent, and kind. So what if they roll in the dirt. Humans bathe in their own filth…and we call it a bath…

  179. katie says:

    WOW! horses are the best!! my mom and i each have a horse. my horse, cutter, is a western horse registered under the AMERICAN PAINT HORSE ASSOCIATION; my mom’s horse, cy, is a tenessee walker. these two animals are very interesting and cutter is the best friend i could have! i tell him everything! hopefully, he won’t get the ability to talk!!!!!!!!HAHAHA! your post is amazing and i don’t care what anyone says!

    *katie:)
    *15 yrs old

  180. sam says:

    For # 9, no a filly is a female baby horse and a colt is a male baby horse. and a foal is a baby horse and u don’t no the gender . And i love horses! i have 2.

  181. dharma says:

    i love horses they are my fav animal and i really want one but we don’t have the money. so we can’t get one and i am sad about that beacuse i really want a horse or horses!!!!!
    horses!horses! horses! horses!

  182. ciarra says:

    I love horses they sweet,butiful,,and graceful.horses are my favs and if my parents ever get me one thatwould be a glorious day

  183. rhea says:

    i love horses because they are so peiceful and a persons best friend

  184. Jessicah9 says:

    i love horse

  185. fxzb says:

    I live on a ranch with 12 horses! Mine is name Nevs

  186. fxzb says:

    I meant her name is Nevada! :)

  187. Alice says:

    I love horses I have 12 in Ireland.
    I have 2 foals, 1 welsh mountian pony , 5 thoroughbreds, 2 quater horses and 2 stallions.
    I LOVE HORSES

  188. amy says:

    i love horses in nature web site it rules
    ponies rule i have 13 horses 3 foals 3 staillon 3 shetlands 2 welsh moutain 2 welsh cross shetland i live in scotland its cool soooo coool i love horse so much . I love all horses there all so sweet and cute love horse they rule .

  189. julia says:

    horses r great i want to get 1 and show it in barrels and poles!!!!!!!!!!!! also im horse cccccccccccrrrrrrrrrrrrraaaaazzzzy!!! Horses horses horses

  190. bella tsunami gross says:

    horses ar awesome/anyone who disagrees doesnt now anything

  191. Alanna says:

    I love horses they are neat and fun to ride and they are soft and cut, I think horses are awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  192. David says:

    I would like to be around horses more that people!!!!
    People are no good!!!!!!!!Just look at what they did to this country!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  193. Jordan says:

    hi, i love horses. who doesn’t. I saw one and i fell in love. I had to start riding. so now i show them like who doesn’t?

  194. Caitlyn says:

    I LOVE Horses !!!!!!! they are so cool

  195. Grace says:

    I LOVE HORSES !!!!!!!!!!! THEY ARE SOOOOOOO COOLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!! I’M GOING TO BYE A HORSE NEXT YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  196. Emily says:

    I ♥ HORSES SOO MUCH!!!!!!! MY PARENTS R BUYING ME 3 NEXT YEAR!!!!!! 1 FOR ME, 1 FOR MY FRIEND, AND 1 FOR MY OTHER FRIEND!

  197. james says:

    I love horses the are the best animals in the hole world i would like to work with them but I carnt find a good place i am a boy i am 10 my room is horse’s picture’s every where I have fallen off a horse’s one time good bye.

  198. deondrae says:

    horses r my lfe i raise dem

  199. Kathyrn says:

    i love horses so so so so so so so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i just wish i had 1

  200. yasmina says:

    i love to ride horses when i go out to my aunt’s farm when i visit Michigan.When i go to Michigan my aunt’s farm is the first place that i want to go to.Michigan rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  201. CUITEY22222222 says:

    I LOVE YHIS ARTICAL I LOVE HORSES

  202. lilly says:

    i love horses but i dont accually have one but i wish i do

  203. emily says:

    i love horses have 7 of them my own THERE THE BEST EVER !!!:)

  204. kiara says:

    i dont know a thing bout horses but now i do thanks for helping me with my school project

  205. Betty says:

    i love horses and i kno so much and now even more thx to this page caint wait ta get up on the back of a horse agian i have to start loping agian soon

  206. brian says:

    i love horses i always have its sumthin about them that free my mind they make me feel like there is hope for tomorrow when eva i dont feel hope for my self thank god for them

  207. mara says:

    i have an aunt who has many horses and i love them. i learned to ride them when i was just 3 years old, isn’t that amazing? i can walk, trot, canter, and jump. also do flying lead changes.

  208. ariana says:

    Horses Rule! My parents say im too young, but soon ill have as many horses as i desire! P.S.:Even my email has the word horses in it!

  209. Kat says:

    Dear Bella Hauck
    A male foal is actually called a colt. A foal can either be a filly or a colt.

  210. maimi says:

    I love horses because they are the most butiful animals on Earth!!!!!! Thats what I think its just my opion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  211. nikki says:

    i luv horses.i have won name aggie she is a creamy chesnut luvin horse.all of my sisters and 2 brothers has won too.{ALABAMA BABAE}XOXO HORSES!!!!!

  212. mary says:

    I think that horses are the best animals because they are soooooooooooo butiful and soft and can canter smoothly!!

  213. CHARLEY says:

    I love horses because they are the best in the world and i hope to get one when i grow up!

  214. Kristyn says:

    I like horses because they are beautiful!

  215. Bailey says:

    This is very informational I’m not a big fan of horses though. I love them because they are animals and I love nature but they just aren’t my fav animal or anything. I like Pugs.

  216. CATIE says:

    I LOVe HORSES! AND MY HORSE “MISS SCARLET”!

  217. cheyenne says:

    i love alot of hoeses

  218. shania says:

    I like horses because they are beautiful!

  219. superacethekittyadventurer X) says:

    i love,love,luv,luv,luv, LUV horses! i wished i owned sooooo badly!,im positive you feel the same way if u don’t own one,anywho i’ve herd theres a poll made in 2004 voting that horse are the 4th most fav. animal in the world! besides cat’s and lizards! and siberian huskies!! i wood do anything to get one!,my twin sister says she wants a monitor lizard!

  220. Ivy says:

    I realy love horses ther the best animals I first like horses are cool!

  221. Leiah :)) says:

    i have 21 horses and trust me you dont want one that bad.. sometimes they are a pain but then again they are cool :))

  222. horse lover says:

    I love love love horses. My Uncle owns a horse farm tha i go to once a year i mean i don’t have a horse but i have mucked out a stable befor some people hate the smell but i love it . I have a rabbit that smells real bad and i can’t stand the smell but i can clean up after a horse any day. I love horses and will be getting ridding leason in 3 months. Can’t wait

    -horse lover-

  223. KieranRyan says:

    Hello i have mucked a stable and hate the smell i am a neare

  224. shereda says:

    I love this website because Ican learn about horses and people.

  225. horsegirl says:

    I love horses! I am getting one for Christmas! I can’t wait! Horses are my favorite animal.

  226. abby and mrs.lillie says:

    okay my 3rd grade class is learning about horse we learned that they were used for transportation

  227. Payton Shelnutt says:

    I love horses so much! I love them so much I am in a saddle club! EVERYBODY should be kind to horses. They almost went extinct!!!!!!!!!! I love horses!

  228. michelle says:

    i think horses are the most beautifull animal that walk this planet..plus there my favorite..and someday i will own one

  229. Michelle says:

    horses are so amazing and like pretty. can’t wait to ride one again!!!

  230. Elizabetg says:

    thank you very much! i am doing a project and this did all and more! this has informed me alot more than anything else. i thank you very much!

  231. jessica says:

    well I think horses are amazing and that they are really awsome and also they need to be out more and another thing is that they are fasanating.

  232. Ashley says:

    I think that horses are like sush the best animal in the world. i wish i had like a whole ton of them. horses are like the coolest animal in like forever I LOVE THEM LIKE SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  233. horseloverforever says:

    I love horses more then any of you people, i have 60 of them, most of them are wild, i broke most of them, I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE HORSES11!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)

  234. jason says:

    i love horses i did not know they almost went extent i camp out in the sand hills every year i only had to put one horse to sleep but i got horses and i ride everyone of them.

  235. mere says:

    Amo a los caballos porque son los animales más butiful en la Tierra !!!!!! Eso es lo que creo que su sólo mi !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! opion

    Tengo una tía que tiene muchos caballos y me encantan. Aprendí a montar cuando yo era apenas 3 años, ¿no es increíble? Puedo caminar, trote, galope y salto. también hacer cambios de vuelo de plomo.

    Amo a los caballos love love. Mi tío es dueño de una granja de caballos i tha ir a una vez al año i significa que no tienes un caballo, pero he limpiado un befor estable algunas personas odian el mal olor, pero me encanta. Tengo un conejo que huele muy mal y no puedo soportar el olor pero puedo limpiar después de un caballo en cualquier momento. Amo a los caballos y será conseguir librar Leason en 3 meses. No puede esperar

    -amante de caballos

  236. alyssa says:

    i have a horse, his name is buster he is sweet like strawberrys

  237. sydney price says:

    I have study horses ever seece i was 2 years old and grown up on a farm and my dad is a horse trainer and his name is willame dean price . my dad tought me how to ride horses all my life i have two horses . and i help my dad tarin horses i really do love horses . alot

  238. Sam says:

    Some things in this article bother me, mostly the line saying “they soon reclaimed the prairies that had once been theirs alone”, as if other animals are less important then horses.

  239. Mell says:

    im doing how did horses evolve for my exam in biology
    thanks for the help
    i now understand :)
    its interesting :)

  240. Paul says:

    Horse Babies….. A foal is a newborn horse, male or female, until the age of 6 months may be refered to as a ‘Foal’, a baby boy is a Colt, and will be refered to as such till the age of 4. If he is castrated then he is a Gelding, or if not then he is a Stallion. A baby girl horse is refered to as a Filly, and as such till the age of 4, then is refered to as a mare.
    I have 3 Arabians, one a Stallion that is now 31 years old, and I purchased him at the age of 3….wonderful life long friend and companion. Just wanted to clear up the Foal, Colt, Filly, as many are not clear on this. Thanks…

  241. Kristen says:

    Thanks, i didnt know half of this till now. I love horses with all my heart. Most beautiful creatures on earth.

  242. jackie says:

    I love horses so much they are just such a wonderful creature before i went on this website i only knew a few thing now i now lots more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  243. alexa lexy joe says:

    my toori

  244. stephanie says:

    i love horses i want to be a trainer i am 12 years old and i already know what i want to be

  245. Alliyah says:

    AWESOME. I absolutely adore horses, I am the future owner of my family’s farm. We own 6 paint horses and 3 wild unkown breeds. If you want to, keep reading so You can hear every name of my horses…..

    We also have a pregnet horse (Haiti), If we are rewarded with a colt it shall be named Kovu. If a filly, Beauty

    1. Starfire
    2. Lucy
    3. Ronnie
    4. Haiti
    5. Lucky
    6. Mom
    7. Sunset (wild)
    8. Sora (wild)
    9. Kiara (wild)

  246. Mary says:

    OK well i love hores more than anyone else i have had 20 b4 but now i only have 10…. i have 2 of my own and i love them…we love to run and play…. but i am a true cowgirl!! :) they are the best animal in the world

  247. Alliyah says:

    you got that right honey. Hey, I have wonderful news, today we found out the gender of our new little foul. It’s a male. Like I said his name is Kovu. I can’t wait till May 24. that’s his hopeful due date, BTW.
    I love horses, especially wild ones. you don’t know what can happen when your around them. but you usually get that tingly feeling when you are around the wild ones. your fingers start to twitch and you sometimes shift your head from side to side. it’s amazing though.

  248. jada brianne says:

    i love hoses i think there so cool and so are wild horses…..i love horses

  249. Alliyah says:

    If a horse is having excrutiating pain from a kicking foul in her belly, what do you do?

  250. Devann says:

    ah ha i have 3 horses. ones a buckskin gelding quarter named buck and hes a retired barrel racer, 27 years old and still wants to run. I have a 9 year old bay mare quarter named reese and shes fast as can be. took first place 3 years in a row with previous owner, had her about a year now. and my chestnut gelding, thunder, is my dads trail horse. and they are all very wonderful!!!! horses are so amazing!

  251. Ellyn says:

    Everyone here is SOOO!!!!!!! lucky to have horses i dont have one but i wish i did SOOO!!!!!!! MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  252. sara says:

    horses are cool i have my own i ride her show her and ect. i love wild horses

  253. Hopey says:

    My friend August loves horses

  254. HannahLeigh says:

    I jus got my 1st 2 horses last night! A palomino and a paint with blue eyes! I hv always loved horses!! I really love the story behind horses!

  255. Belle says:

    Wow can tell there are a lot of children commenting. I loved the article. Could use a bit more information about the modern horse but it was a wonderful article. I do love horses. They are my life. They are one of the worlds most beautiful creatures, intelligent, graceful, and I could go on forever. I am alive today because of one of those things that stink. I think they smell wonderful. If it weren’t for a horse that helped me through a rough patch in my life I would be dead.

  256. chelsea reid says:

    HI I LOVE HORSES SO MUCH!
    I would never stop riding a absoulty love them so much
    One day i fell twice of the horse i was ridng at Ayr Equestrian Centre. the first time i fell i lost my stirrup and the second time the horse i was riding, Cagney she doesnt like other horses to close to her so then i went one way and she went the other way and then i fell of so i went to the hospital and i gto a check over and they said I was fine. They said that the only i could ride was that if i got lead.

  257. yourhorseman.com says:

    I believe GOD created horses .

  258. cheyenne says:

    <3I love them

  259. trinity says:

    i love horses i think people should love thiem a lot . i ride them all the time i will not stop now .i was 6 years old whene i got my first horse. i don’t mean to brag but i have 46 horses. i love horses so much i can see why people don’t like them so much. people should like we wanted to be treaed.i love baby horses i think they are so cute!!! i think horses rock

  260. zoey says:

    i don’t mean to brag but i have 50 horses i’ll only name u one of them and her name is buttercup. i had her when i was 7 and now i’m 12.i ride her all the time. i love horses the rock.

  261. Wayne Ode says:

    There are to many wid horses. They are being wharehoused on feed lots at tax payer expense. they should be euthanised or slaughtered as humanly as possible.

  262. showjumper4ever says:

    i love horses! ride em every week! i show jump its the funnest sport on earth!!! :) its fun to jump without your hands and sturrups!!!

  263. shelby says:

    i love horses and i have 9 at my aunts house because i cant have tham were i live now!!!!!!!!

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