Horses, Donkeys and Mules

Horse Digestive System

Monogastric Hind gut fermenter

Horse reproduction system

Seasonal Breeders

Long Day breeders (Come into heat when daylight increases in the spring)

Gestration: 340 days

Pony

Less than 14.2 hands

Broad, Thick

Riding, Driving, Pack animals

Miniture

33” and under

Companion or Service Animal

Draft Horses

Also known as “Cold Bloods”

Work horses (pulling + plowin)

Muscular Build: 16-19 Hands 1,400-3,500 lbs

From Northern Europe

EX. Belgian, Percheron

Light Horses

Split into two groups (Hot bloods and Warm bloods)

Typical Horse

14.2-16 hands; 800-1,300 lbs

Agility and Endurance

Hot bloods

Light bodied, spiritied temperament

High energy, agility, speed

EX. Arabian, thoroughbred

Warm Bloods

Cross between hot and cold bloods

Referred to as sport horses

EX. Hanoverian, Mustang

Quarter Horses

First horse developed in US

Four ranches developed this reed in TX

First unique American Breed

Horse population (World + US)

world - 59 million (U.S, China, Mexico)

US. - 1st in world, 9.5 million, TX, CA, TN

Donkeys Build

Much tougher than a horse

Physically have bigger ears while tails are like cattle

More sure footed

Will eat almost anything

Slower

Mules

Hybrid between Donkey and Horse

63 chromosomess

Sterile animals

Mule (Jack X Mare)

Hinny (Stallion X Jenny)