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Wild and free • While most horses are domestic, others remain wild. Feral horses are the descendents of once-tame animals that have run free for generations. Groups of such horses can be found in many places around the world. Free roaming North American mustangs, for example, are the descendents of horses brought by Europeans more than 400 years ago.
Wild horses • Wild horses generally gather in groups of 3 to 20 animals. A stallion (mature male) leads the group, which consists of mares (females) and young foals. When young males become colts, at around two years of age, the stallion drives them away. The colts then roam with other young males until they can gather their own band of females.
Wild horses live in groups called herds, they have very lively spirits.
Przewalski breed • The Przewalski's horse is the only truly wild horse whose ancestors were never domesticated. Ironically, this stocky, sturdy animal exists today only in captivity. The last wild Przewalski's horse was seen in Mongolia in 1968.
A male horse will mate a female and they have a foal, if it’s a boy it’s called a colt and if it’s a girl it’s called a filly. Then the male will find another female and they will mate, and the male will keep on mating until he dies.
Relationship • Horses and humans have an ancient relationship. Asian nomads probably domesticated the first horses some 4,000 years ago, and the animals remained essential to many human societies until the advent of the engine. Horses still hold a place of honor in many cultures, often linked to heroic exploits in war.
Some things that horses do • In Turkestan, horses are trained for a game called Buzkashi. They must be able to stop, turn, and kneel quickly. • Big, strong horses are raised to pull heavy wagons such as those in circus parades. • Thoroughbreds are slim handsome horses that can run fast. They are raised for riding and jumping. • Horses have been useful to people for thousands of years. People used to do much of their traveling by riding on horses or in carriages that horses pulled. Horses pulled plows and wagons on farms. • Today, machines do most of the work that horses once did. But horses are still raised for riding, racing, and other sports. And in some parts of the world, horses still do a lot of work, too.
