# Horse (*Equus ferus caballus*) Horses are large, strong animals that have helped people travel and work for thousands of years. They can run very fast and love open spaces. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 4/5 · High - **Habitat:** Farms, fields, and stables. - **Also known as:** Equine, Steed ![Horse](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424225/objects/4367.jpg) ## Appearance The Horse has a large head, strong body, and long legs ending in hard hooves. Its coat comes in many solid colors like bay, chestnut, black, or grey, often with a flowing mane and tail that make it distinct from striped zebras. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Perissodactyla - **Family:** Equidae - **Genus:** Equus ## Interesting facts - A horse's brain weighs less than half of a human brain, but they are very smart! - A horse's teeth never stop growing, so they need to graze or chew to wear them down! - Horses use their ears, eyes, and nostrils to express their mood to other horses! - They can only breathe through their nose, not through their mouth like humans can. ## Special abilities - **Speedy Sprinter:** Horse can run very fast using its powerful leg muscles because that helps them escape danger. - **Wide View:** Horse has eyes on the sides of its head, giving it almost 360-degree vision to spot predators. - **Hoof Power:** Horse has strong hooves, which protect its feet and provide traction for running over different terrains. - **Grinding Teeth:** Horse can grind tough plants with its large, flat molar teeth that help them digest fibrous food. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 140-185 cm - **Weight:** 250-1000 kg - **Lifespan:** 25-30 years - **Speed:** 65 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 320-360 days ## Diet & Feeding Horses are plant-eaters that love to munch on grass and hay all day long to stay healthy! - **Primary Foods:** Grass, Hay, Oats, Apples, Carrots - **Foraging Method:** Grazing ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Kentucky Bluegrass](https://www.snappit.app/explore/kentucky-bluegrass) (*Poa pratensis*) — A common grass grazed by horses. - **Eats:** [White Clover](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-clover) (*Trifolium repens*) — A nutritious legume found in horse pastures. - **Eaten by:** Grey Wolf (*Canis lupus*) — Wild and feral horses can be prey for wolves. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Domesticated](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/domesticated): Domesticated refers to species that have been selectively bred and tamed by humans for specific purposes. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 4/5 · High Stand to the side when near a horse’s back legs to avoid kicks. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Horse? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Horse? 140-185 cm ### How much does Horse weigh? 250-1000 kg ### How long does Horse live? 25-30 years ### How fast can Horse move? 65 km/h ### What does Horse eat? Horses are plant-eaters that love to munch on grass and hay all day long to stay healthy! ### Where is Horse usually found? Farms, fields, and stables. ### How does Horse hunt? Grazing ## Where to spot - [Red River Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/red-river-zoo) — North Dakota, US · Zoo - [Flint RiverQuarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/flint-riverquarium-georgia) — Georgia, US · Aquarium ## Watch - [Play video: Horse](https://www.snappit.app/videos/horse) - [YouTube](https://youtube.com/watch?v=uAQ8sLgQYM4) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Horse: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/horse)