The document discusses the characteristics of mammals and details specific features of horses, highlighting their body types, sensory organs, and unique facts. Mammals share five key traits, including being warm-blooded and providing milk to their young. It also notes that horses cannot breathe through their mouths, can sleep standing, and possess exceptional reflexes and a wide field of vision.

1. SCIENCE

2. Mammals
Parts of the Horse

3. CHARACTERISTICS OF
MAMMALS
• What five characteristics do mammals have in common?
✓Mammals have hair or fur;
✓are warm-blooded;
✓most are born alive;
✓the young are fed milk produced by the mother's
mammary glands; and
✓they have a more complex brain than other animals.

4. The Horse

5. The Horse
*Horses come in a wide range of colors
and patterns. For some horse breeds ,
only a particular color or color
combination is allowed. In others,
individual horses may be virtually any
color.

7. Horses Come in 3 Basic Body
Types
Light Breeds
• Light horses are bred for riding,
racing, jumping, and herding.
Their long, thin legs are
designed for speed. Long,
flexible necks help them stay
balanced while running and
maneuvering. Well-defined
withers allow light horses to be
easily fitted with a saddle.
• Light breeds generally weigh
from 800 to 1,500 pounds (363
to 680 kilograms).
•
Ponies
• Ponies are usually small in size
and stocky looking. They have
been developed for use in
specific environments. The depth
of their body is usually equal to
the length of their legs. In many
equestrian competitions, any
horse under 14.2 hands high (58
inches, or 147 centimeters) is
considered a pony.
Ponies weigh from 200 to 1,500
pounds (91 to 680 kilograms).
Heavy breeds
–also called draft horses–
are big, massive horses.
They are built to pull plows
and wagons, and to carry
hefty loads. Their relatively
short, sturdy legs give them
better leverage when
pulling. Short, muscular
backs and powerful
hindquarters allow them to
tow substantial weights.
Heavy breeds weigh from

10. Head
✓The horse's head is quite heavy – it
can weigh approximately 16 kg if the
horse is big.
✓short, well-set ears
✓large, bold eyes
✓short distance from eye to muzzle
✓large nostrils
✓refined muzzle with a shallow mouth

11. Neck •What does the horse use its neck
for?
*- balance
✓The horse uses his head and neck
for balance in a pendulum effect
to counteract actions of the hind
end of his body. He can raise or
lower his head to help maintain or
regain his balance, and to help
adjust his speed or direction.

12. Ears
They use their hearing for
three primary functions:
✓to detect sounds
✓to determine the location of
the sound
✓and to provide sensory
information that allows the
horse to recognize the identity
of these sounds.

13. Muzzle
*The muzzle is the part of
the horse's head that
includes the area of the
mouth, nostrils, chin, lips,
and front of the nose.
*The muzzle is very mobile
and sensitive. Whiskers
help the horse sense
things close to its nose and
the skin is almost hairless.

14. Nostrils
*Large, thin-walled nostrils
allow for great expansion
when exercising extensively
and there is a requirement for
lots of air. Horses breed for
slower types of work have
smaller, thicker- walled
nostrils.

15. Mane
The mane is thought to keep the
neck warm, and possibly to help
water run off the neck if the
animal cannot obtain shelter
from the rain. It also provides
some fly protection to the front
of the horse, although the tail
is usually the first defense
against flies.

16. Torso
*Horse barrel, or the
trunk. The horse's
torso along with the
back is the part of the
horse's body
*that protects all his
most important organs.

17. Forelegs
These are the two
front legs. They
have bones that are
like the bones in
human arms.

18. Hind legs
These are the two
back legs. They
have bones that are
like the bones in
human arms.

19. Hooves
Shoeing can help give a horse added
stability and grip in difficult
terrains or poor weather
conditions, especially wet or muddy
weather.
Researchers have found that a single
hoof provides better support and
can bear a horse's weight, allowing
it to run faster than if it had many

20. Tail
The tail is used by the horse and
other to keep away biting insects,
and the position and movement of
the tail may provide clues to the
animal's physical or emotional
state.
Why do horses run with their tail up?
A raised tail is often a sign of high excitement or just feeling
great.
Young horses, or horses with excess energy, galloping
freely in a field often hoist their tails high to show their
exuberance.

22. Facts about the Horse
Although horses are such well-known animals, the following facts
may surprise you about these magnificent creatures.
• Horses can't breathe through their mouth. ...
• Horses can sleep standing up. ...
• Horses have lightning fast reflexes. ...
• Horses have 10 different muscles in their ears. ...
• Horses have a nearly 360 degree field of vision.

23. ears
head
neck
mane
body
tail
Hind legs
hoofs
Fore legs