Horses 2: Lifespan and Life Stages

Horses 2
Lifespan and life stages
Depending on breed, management and environment, the modern domestic horse has a life
expectancy of 25 to 30 years.[7] Uncommonly, a few animals live into their 40s and, occasionally, beyond.[8]
The oldest verifiable record was "Old Billy", a 19th-century horse that lived to the age of 62.[7] In modern
times, Sugar Puff, who had been listed in Guinness World Records as the world's oldest living pony, died in
2007 at age 56.[9]
Regardless of a horse or pony's actual birth date, for most competition purposes a year is added to
its age each January 1 of each year in the Northern Hemisphere[7][10] and each August 1 in the Southern
Hemisphere.[11] The exception is in endurance riding, where the minimum age to compete is based on the
animal's actual calendar age.[12]
The following terminology is used to describe horses of various ages:
Foal: A foal of either sex less than one year old. A nursing foal is sometimes called a suckling and a
foal that has been weaned is called a weanling.[13] Most domesticated foals are weaned at five to seven
months of age, although foals can be weaned at four months with no adverse physical effects.[14]
Yearling: A horse of either sex that is between one and two years old.[15]
Colt: A male horse under the age of four.[16] A common terminology error is to call any young horse
a "colt", when the term actually only refers to young male horses.[17]
Filly: A female horse under the age of four.[13]
Mare: A female horse four years old and older.[18]
Stallion: A non-castrated male horse four years old and older.[19] The term "horse" is sometimes
used colloquially to refer specifically to a stallion.[20]
Gelding: A castrated male horse of any age.[13]
In horse racing, these definitions may differ: For example, in the British Isles, Thoroughbred horse
racing defines colts and fillies as less than five years old.[21] However, Australian Thoroughbred racing
defines colts and fillies as less than four years old.[22]
Size and measurement
The height of horses is measured at the highest point of the withers, where the neck meets the back.
[23] This point is used because it is a stable point of the anatomy, unlike the head or neck, which move up
and down in relation to the body of the horse.
In English-speaking countries, the height of horses is often stated in units of hands and inches: one
hand is equal to 4 inches (101.6 mm). The height is expressed as the number of full hands, followed by a
point, then the number of additional inches, and ending with the abbreviation "h" or "hh" (for "hands high").
Thus, a horse described as "15.2 h" is 15 hands plus 2 inches, for a total of 62 inches (157.5 cm) in height.[24]
A large brown horse is chasing a small horse in a pasture.
Size varies greatly among horse breeds, as with this full-sized horse and small pony.
The size of horses varies by breed, but also is influenced by nutrition. Light riding horses usually
range in height from 14 to 16 hands (56 to 64 inches, 142 to 163 cm) and can weigh from 380 to 550
kilograms (840 to 1,210 lb).[25] Larger riding horses usually start at about 15.2 hands (62 inches, 157 cm)
and often are as tall as 17 hands (68 inches, 173 cm), weighing from 500 to 600 kilograms (1,100 to 1,320 lb).
[26] Heavy or draft horses are usually at least 16 hands (64 inches, 163 cm) high and can be as tall as 18
hands (72 inches, 183 cm) high. They can weigh from about 700 to 1,000 kilograms (1,540 to 2,200 lb).[27]
The largest horse in recorded history was probably a Shire horse named Mammoth, who was born in
1848. He stood 21.2 1⁄4 hands (86.25 inches, 219 cm) high and his peak weight was estimated at 1,524
kilograms (3,360 lb).[28] The current record holder for the world's smallest horse is Thumbelina, a fully
mature miniature horse affected by dwarfism. She is 17 in (43 cm) tall and weighs 57 lb (26 kg).[29]
Ponies
Ponies are taxonomically the same animals as horses. The distinction between a horse and pony is
commonly drawn on the basis of height, especially for competition purposes. However, height alone is not
dispositive; the difference between horses and ponies may also include aspects of phenotype, including
conformation and temperament.
The traditional standard for height of a horse or a pony at maturity is 14.2 hands (58 inches, 147 cm).
An animal 14.2 h or over is usually considered to be a horse and one less than 14.2 h a pony,[30] but there
are many exceptions to the traditional standard. In Australia, ponies are considered to be those under 14
hands (56 inches, 142 cm).[31] For competition in the Western division of the United States Equestrian
Federation, the cutoff is 14.1 hands (57 inches, 145 cm).[32] The International Federation for Equestrian
Sports, the world governing body for horse sport, uses metric measurements and defines a pony as being
any horse measuring less than 148 centimetres (58.27 in) at the withers without shoes, which is just over
14.2 h, and 149 centimetres (58.66 in), or just over 14.21⁄2 h, with shoes.[33]
Height is not the sole criterion for distinguishing horses from ponies. Breed registries for horses that
typically produce individuals both under and over 14.2 h consider all animals of that breed to be horses
regardless of their height.[34] Conversely, some pony breeds may have features in common with horses, and
individual animals may occasionally mature at over 14.2 h, but are still considered to be ponies.[35]
Ponies often exhibit thicker manes, tails, and overall coat. They also have proportionally shorter legs,
wider barrels, heavier bone, shorter and thicker necks, and short heads with broad foreheads. They may
have calmer temperaments than horses and also a high level of intelligence that may or may not be used to
cooperate with human handlers.[30] Small size, by itself, is not an exclusive determinant. For example, the
Shetland pony which averages 10 hands (40 inches, 102 cm), is considered a pony.[30] Conversely, breeds
such as the Falabella and other miniature horses, which can be no taller than 30 inches (76 cm), are classified
by their registries as very small horses, not ponies.[36]

Horses 2: Lifespan and Life Stages

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Horses 2

Lifespan and life stages

The following terminology is used to describe horses of various ages:

Filly: A female horse under the age of four.[13]

Mare: A female horse four years old and older.[18]

Gelding: A castrated male horse of any age.[13]

Size and measurement

A large brown horse is chasing a small horse in a pasture.

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