HORSE, Equus, a genus of pachydermatous quadrupeds of the family equidce (q.v.), or sotidangula, generally regarded as including all the species of the family, although sometbnes limited (see Ass), so as to contain only one species, the most important to man of all animals that are used as beasts of burden and of draught. The principal zoological characters are already given in the articles EQUIDA: and Ass, and a more particular description of the horse seems to be unnecessary. The native country of the horse is uncertain. Some contend for Asia, and some for Africa; some suppose that the horse was first domesticated in Egypt, and quote Scripture in support of their opin ion, but to no better purpose than to show that at a very early period it was in use as a domesticated and valued animal among the ancient Egyptians; whilst others adduco arguments not more conclusive to show that it was originally domesticated in the n.e. of Asia; some think it not improbable that Europe also, and even Britain, had indige nous horses. Whether certain wild races of central Asia and the n. of Africa are really indigenous to the regions in which they are found, or the offspring of animals which have escaped from domestication, like those of America, and whether the origin of the domestic horse is to be referred to one original form, or to several forms some what different, and belonging to different countries, are questions also uncertain; and the last of them is very similar to that which is so much agitated respecting the dog (q.v.), although it must be admitted that the diversities are not so great as in that case.
The Tips and teeth of the 'norse adapt it for cropping the short heritage of dry plains or bills, so that it finds abundance where an ox would be very insufficiently supplied. The feet are also adapted to dry rather than to soft or swampy ground. On soft ground, not only is the foot apt to sink, not being very broad, but the horny hoof is softened, and a diseased state of the feet is the result, as in the case of many of the great dray-; horses of London, reared in the alluvial districts of the east of England. The horse, however, requires it liberal supply of water; and during the dry season, in the hot plains of South America, great troops of wild horses often rush furiously to the rivers,.
and as they approach the drinking-place, trample one another under foot, vast numbers of skeletons remaining to bleach in the sun.
Wild horses are found on the plains of central Asia. Some also inhabit mountain ous or hilly districts both there and in the n. of Africa. They abound still more in the grassy plains of North and South America, althou,gh they were first introduced int. America by Europeans; and certain tribes of Indians, both in North and South America, have become at least as equestrian in their habits as any of the Tartars of the east.
Wild horses are also found in the Falkland islands, into which they were introduced by and a peculiar breed has been found in a wild state in the island of Celelks.
The races or varieties of the horse have an evident relation to the climate of the countries in which they occur. Those of cold and stormy regions are small and rough-haired; those of more favored climates, large and sleek. There aro also differences, inure evidently to be ascribed to..domestication, according to which certain breeds are particularly adapted to certain-kinds of work, some excelling in fleet news, some in endurance, some in mere strength for burden or draught. The slender form of the race-horse or hunter contrasts almost as strongly with the ponderous solidity of the dray-horse, as the great size of the latter does with the diminutiveness of the Shetland pony.
Wild horses congregate in troops, sometimes small, but sometimes of many hundreds. The males have fierce contests for the supremacy, and males that have contended unsuc cessfully are often driven off to a solitary life. On the appearance of danger, the chief stallion of a small troop seems to direct the movements of all, and even the largest troops seem instinctively to move in a kind of concert, so that when they are assailed, the stronger animals oppose the enemy, and protect the younger and weaker. Wolves, even when in packs, attack with success only weakened stragglers, and even the jaguar is repelled. In fighting, horses either raise themselves on their hind-feet, and bring sown the fore-feet with great force on the enemy, or wheeling about, kick violently with the hind-feet.