Welcome to the Equestrian Outreach Humans and Horses an Overview Page

Humans & Horses – An Overview

Horses were some of the earliest mammals. The origin of the horse dates back to the Eocene period, 50 million years ago. By the Pleistocene period about 1 million years ago, the modern horse had developed. (Click here for more information)

The family of horses is called Equidae which comes from the Latin word for horse, equus. This family also includes both the donkey and the mule. Members of the horse family are the only animals in the world that have just one working toe on each foot. This toe is protected by a hard, horny hoof. The order of Horse is referred to by scientists as Equus Caballus. (Click here for more information)

Horses and People

Horses have been used by man for a variety of tasks. During the Stone Age horses were a source of food eaten for their meat. But later horses were used for riding, for delivering mail and messages, for hunts, and for battle; for hauling, such as pulling loads, carrying packs, or pulling plows; and for herding other animals such as cattle. In addition horses have been used for sport as racing animals, show animals, and during games of polo. (Click here for more information)

The horse has played an important role in great events in man’s history also. The Arabian horse allowed the Muslims to establish a great empire sweeping over Africa. They also invaded and conquered Spain. It wasn’t until 732 when the Muslims advanced into France that their swift light horses were overpowered by France’s armored knights mounted on huge, heavier breeds. (Click here for more information)

In the 13th century it was the horse that allowed Genghis Khan’s Mongol Calvary to sweep north east to conquer much of Russia.

The Horse's Body

Horses' bodies are built for speed with powerful leg and rump muscles, long slender legs, and large lungs. Horses can be bred for heavy work though, such as the Clydesdale horse which weighs close to a ton and is favored in the US Midwest as a work horse. Shetland ponies, despite their small size, were also bred for work. For many years in England they worked in the coal mines and were prized for their endurance. There are at least 300 breeds of horses in the world today. (Click here for more information)

A horse's ears can aim forward, to the side, or back to catch sound. Their eyes are larger than the eyes of any other living animal except the whale and the ostrich. With these large eyes, one placed on each side of their head, they are able to see objects well at quite a distance and detect movement from almost any direction. (Click here for more information)

Horses also use their bodies for communication. While horses do use their voices to communicate, they can generally signal a variety of emotions and ideas with body language. Arching their necks, showing their teeth, rearing up, widening their eyes, and other body movement’s signal to other horses and animals what the horse is thinking. (Click here for more information)