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horse

The history of the horse
It is estimated that the horse has been around for about 50 million years. They first developed into small wild herds. The domestication of horses began about 6,000 years ago as wild horses were captured by humans. In the wild, horses use their speed to avoid predators. Once domesticated, the horse was useful in hunting. Later it was much more valuable in civilization for its strength to pulling carts, wagons, plows, etc. The speed of horses would eventually be often utilized for military uses.
Along with speed and strength, horses have a good sense of balance. They have a unique ability to sleep while standing or while lying down. pregnant female horses (mares) give birth in about 11 months. A newborn horse called a foal has the ability to stand and run by itself shortly after it is born. It takes a horse about five years to fully mature and they usually live to an age of 25 years or older.
There are over 300 different breeds of horses today. Breeding of horses over the centuries has been aimed at the development of specific traits. These traits include size, speed, strength, endurance, temperament, appearance and intelligence. The attributes of a thoroughbred at the racetrack, a draft horse on a farm, a jumper in an equestrian event at the Olympics, a circus pony and a pleasure horse at a riding stable are all horses but have little else in common.
Horses seem to have originated in the steppes (Plains) of central Asia and domestication spread them through other parts of Asia as well as into Europe and North Africa. It appears they came to the Americas on ships and the wild herds in North and South America developed from escaped or released animals. For centuries in various parts of the world, bloodlines of horses have been tracked and recorded. The promotion of chariot races in Roman times and before put great importance on the pedigree of their animals In the Middle East, the Bedouins have put great significance and value on the lineage of their horses since the 1400s if not before. Many breeds, like the  Andalusia, can trace lineages far back into recorded history.
Horses have played a key role in human history. Whether in farming, ranching, forestry, mining, construction, entertainment, industry, exploration or the military, the horse has been an important part of the advance of civilization. Even today in our modern world there are estimated to be around 60 million horses with over half of them in North and South America. In a worldwide survey of over 50,000 people, the horse ranked fourth among all animals in popularity (behind the tiger, the dog and the dolphin).
Historically, riding horses has had many purposes from pleasure to jousting, from delivering the mail to cavalry charges, from police activities to racing in the Kentucky Derby. Equestrians, the fancy term for people who ride horses, have usually honed their skills through training, events, games and races, Out of this several sports have evolved.
Various equestrian events challenge not only the skills of both horse and rider but also test the communication between them. Rodeo events both measure a rider’s ability to get the horse to perform certain tasks as well as in one event to measure the horse’s ability to throw off a rider. Horse races measure the speed of a horse but in conjunction with the talents of other horses and riders. All of these activities make up a significant part of the sports and entertainment industry worldwide.

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