Wild Horses
Introduction
We all know zebras, mules, donkeys, rhinos, tapirs, and horses, but maybe you didn’t know that these are all the cousins and distant cousins of the wild horse. The wild is horse is also known as the mustang, a word that comes from the Spanish word mestengo, meaning “ownerless beast”. (Dimock) This makes sense, for the wild horse is a feral and powerful animal. (Harbury 9) The wild horse may seem like a bit of an outcast, but a wild horse is a very interesting animal.
Appearance
The wild horse’s appearance is quite like the domestic horse, but there are many differences. “The average wild horse is about 13 hands tall (156 inches). It depends on the height but most are 700 to 800 pounds.” (Eduscapes) This is much smaller
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Their good hearing comes from their pointed ears that can turn in almost any direction. This comes in handy because horses neigh to let others know that they’re around. Wild horses also have good smell. This helps them to smell faint odors. Because of this, you might see a wild horse sniffing the air. A wild horse’s eyesight is also very good. Horses have large eyes, and their pupils can open very wide. Their eyes can move independently. It also helps that their eyes are on the sides of their head meaning they can look in every direction. All of these senses make it very hard to sneak up on a wild horse. “At the first sight, sound, or smell of anything that might be dangerous, the stallion drives his band into a tight group and sends them galloping off to safety. He stays just at the rear, between his band and the threat.” (Harbury 29)
Mating
Mating season is in spring. Wild horse mares give off a special scent that attracts the stallions. If more than one stallion wants to mate with the mare, it results in a stallion fight. A stallion usually gives up quickly in the fight. The victor gets to mate with the mare. The mare is ready to give birth to her foal after 11 months during spring.
They give birth to their foals during night to protect it from predators. The mare begins to lick and nuzzle her tiny, trembling foal after it is born. After this, the stallion will leave to find a shelter for the new family. (Harbury