WILD HORSES

BY: KAYLA AND COZETTE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction-1

Characteristics-2

Locomotion-3

Diet/Food Chain-4

Habitat-5Adaptations-6Life Cycle-7 Species Survival Statutus-8Behavior/something Special-9Words to know-10Bibliography-11

INTRODUCTIONWild Horses have many differences from domestic horses. They have many interesting adaptations. The scientific name is Equus Caballus. When a horse is born it is called a foal. When its two years old, it is called a colt for a male and a female is called a filly. A colt becomes a stallion about 6 years later. A filly becomes a mare.

CHARACTERISTICS A wild horse looks dirty and mangy. Its hair is long and messy. A wild horse looks very much like a domesticated horse, except their coat, mane, and tail look to be more coarser and rougher. Wild horses are very tall. The tallest horse was 7 feet and 2 inches. Usually wild horses are just 7 feet. They are very dirty and most wild horses have dark colors. Their average size is 317 kilograms, but adult stallions can weigh up to 450 kilograms.

LOCOMOTION

• Wild horses can move very quickly. Wild horses can run, jump, walk, and gallop. Wild horses can run 45-50 miles per hour. It is very important for wild horses to move and have long legs so they can get away from its’ natural predators.

DIET/FOOD CHAIN

Female and male

sun., rain,

soil

grass

apples

trees

w. horses

Mount.lions

bears

Facts• A wild horse eats different things in

different time periods. In winter they eat tree bark, their own fur, twigs, dung piles, leaves, snow, and thistles [a plant]. In fall they eat 6 pounds of leaves, twigs, tree bark, grass, and any wild berries to be found. In spring and summer they eat wild flowers, twigs, grass, berries, and fruits. They are herbivores. They drink from water holes, lakes, and streams.

HABITATThe wild horse prefers to live mostly in grasslands and desserts. They prefer there because it’s not so cold in the winter and there is more things to eat. In the world they live in Nevada, Europe, Asia, Wyoming, California, Oregon, Colorado, Idaho, Arizona, New Mexico, and North Dakota.

ADAPTATIONS

Wild horses have many adaptations. When a predator or a human is near, it will freeze and run away. It’s natural predators are mountain lions and bears. They run on their toes so the rocks and pokey plants don’t hurt them. They have natural red eyes to scare humans away. The wild horse will buck to defend itself. The only truly wild horses in the world today are the little przewalskis [psha-VAL-skeez] horses of Mongolia. Baby horses can run shortly after birth to get away from predators quickly.

LIFE CYCLE

Wild horses are mammals which means they come out of their mother when they are born. An average wild horse lives about 15-20 years. A lucky wild horse lives up to 30 years.

*Female *Male

FoalYearling

FillyAdult

Mare

FoalYearling

ColtAdult

Stallion

WILD HORSE SURVIVAL STATUS

Yes, wild horses are in danger. This is because people capture them, and take away their land to live in.

BEHAVIOR/SOMETHING SPECIALWild horses live in groups called families. Wild horses have strong legs. They have hard hooves so they may put up with many different ground conditions. A baby wild horse can not leave it’s mother until it is 15 years old. Wild horses come in a variety of colors, such as grey, black, and white. About half of all wild horses are roan-a reddish brown-in color. Wild horses run on their toenails! That’s right! They have toenails! They have red eyes, that is how you can tell if they are wild. A family is made up of a leader, a dominant male horse called a stallion, his mares, and their foals. Drinking places can be very dangerous because predators often attack there. Wild horses have a long history because Native Americans first found them, and learned to catch them, then used them to herd buffalo to hunt.

WORDS TO KNOW

• Mare = Female• Mangy = Shabby• Coarser = More Harsh• Thistles = Plants• Dung Piles = Manure• Mustang = a small, hardy horse, usually a wild horse

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Book Website• Name of Website: Animal Facts

• Website Address: www.AnimalFacts.com• Author: Gareth Stevens

• Title: Wild Horses

• Publisher: Gareth Stevens Publishing

• Place: America Date: 2004

• Author: Yua Momatiuk

• Title: Face to face with wild horses

• Publisher: National Geographic

• Place: Washington D.C. Date: 2009

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