Childrens Illustrated Encyclopedia

261

Shire horse may be more than

6 ft (18 hands, 180 cm) at the

shoulders and weigh more

than 2,500 lb (1,135 kg).

Donkey

A donkey is a domesticated ass.

Donkeys, together with horses and

asses, have been hauling loads for

people for thousands of years. They

are often called beasts of burden.

other beasts of burden include the

mule, which is the offspring of a

female horse and a male donkey,

and the hinny, the offspring of a

female donkey and a male horse

how we measure

horses

Horses can be measured

in hands from the ground

to the withers (the highest

point of the shoulder).

one hand equals 4 in

(10 cm). Shire horses

are the largest horses.

Shetland ponies are

among the smallest.

ASS

There are two kinds of wild ass—the African

ass and the Asian ass. The African ass lives in

dry, rocky areas of north Africa;

the Asian ass is found in Asia.

Asses need very little water

and survive in the wild by

eating tough, spiky grasses.

Like other members of

the horse family, the

female ass has only one

offspring, called a foal.

The foal can walk a few

minutes after birth.

ZebrA

The zebra is the only member of the horse

family with stripes. Although zebras

look alike, each one has its own

unique black and white markings.

Like horses, zebras are social

animals and live together in herds;

young males, however, often live in

bachelor groups

until they are

mature. As they

become adults,

male zebras battle

with other males to

collect a group, or

harem, of females

to breed with.

A zebra can run

at about 40 mph

(65 km/h) to

escape from a

predator such

as a lion.

Zebras live on the open

grasslands of Africa.

PrZewALSki’S HorSe

Also called the Asian

horse or “wild horse,”

Przewalski’s horse

is a relative of the

domestic horse.

Herds of these

horses once

lived on the

high plains

of Mongolia,

in northern

Asia. Today,

there are only

a few thousand

left in zoos and

wildlife parks. Although

introduced back into the wild,

they must be kept away from domestic

A wild ass and a smaller horses to avoid crossbreeding.

domesticated ass

GALLoPinG

Horses move at a walk,

trot, canter, or gallop,

in increasing order of

speed. when a horse

gallops, all its hooves are

off the ground for a split

second during each

stride. The fastest race

horses can gallop at more

than 40 mph (65 km/h)

over a short distance.

TyPeS of HorSeS

Horses can be grouped by the

regions they come from—such as

hotbloods from desert areas,

coldbloods from northern regions

of the world, and warmbloods

that are a crossbreed of the first

two. They can also be grouped by

their build, weight, and height.

All four hooves lift off the

ground in mid-gallop.

Light horses are best

equipped for racing.

Przewalski’s horse has

a stiff upright mane.

Find out more

Animals

Mammals

Mountain wildlife

Transportation, history of

HORSES, ZEBRAS, And ASSES

Shetland pony is

4 ft (12 hands,

120 cm) high.

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