Horse

Horses are large animals with one big toe on each foot. People have had horses as pets and helpers for thousands of years. Long, long ago, horses were much smaller animals with many toes. Over millions of years, they slowly changed into the big, strong horses we know today. This happened a very long time ago in North America.

People started using horses to help them around four thousand years ago. This happened in a place called Central Asia, far away from here. Some horses that people own have run away and live wild now. But these wild horses are not the same as horses that were never tamed by people. There are many, many different types and colors of horses in the world.

Horses are very fast runners. They can run away quickly when they are scared. Horses can sleep standing up or lying down, which is pretty amazing. Baby horses, called foals, can run just a few hours after they are born. Their mothers, called mares, have babies inside them for about eleven months. Most horses start learning to work when they are two to four years old. Horses usually live for about twenty-five to thirty years.

There are more than three hundred different types of horses. Some horses are fast and love to run and play. Other horses are big and strong and can pull very heavy things. Some horses are in the middle and are good for riding. People use horses for many things like racing, riding for fun, and helping police officers. Long ago, horses helped people fight in wars. People also use horses for work on farms and to make people happy and healthy.