Read About Wild Horses

Wild horses are savage beasts with a shy demeanor. Here's everything you need to know about this horse breed.

Wild Horses - Horse Breed Facts

1. Breed Group:

   Wild Horses

2. Height & Weight:

   They are short, at about 14 to 15 hands in height; weighing between 800 and 1000 pounds.

3. Coat:

   Their coats are coarse due to lack of grooming. They may have white spots or patches on their coats or a brindled appearance.

4. Head & Neck:

   Neck is gently sloping, which tilts the head earthwards. Head is shorter than other breeds with a less prominent snout.

5. Body:

   Body is shorter and slenderer than other breeds.

6. Conformation:

   These are extremely sturdy creatures with perfect streamlined bodies and strong legs.

7. Colors:

   They are seen in all available horse colors such as black, white, gray, buckskin, brown, dun, red dun, etc.

8. Gait:

   They can walk, trot and lope.

9. Popularity:

   They are popular as mythical and legendary beasts.

10. Registries:

    Wild horses can be registered by the following bodies: The Wild Horse Sanctuary founded in 1978 and the Wild Horse and Burro Groups.

Wild Horses - Horse Breed Origins

1. Country of Origin:

   USA

2. Lineage/ Bloodline:

   They are supposed to have descended 5.5 million years ago from their ancestor Equus.

3. Historical Information:

   Wild horses have a place in popular myth, legend and history.

Wild Horses - Horse Breed Defining Characteristics

1. Training Ease:

   It is very difficult to train a wild horse, as they cannot adapt to change in their habitats. They can just be taught basic gait.

2. Temperament:

   They are shy creatures and may run away as a defense measure. However, they may become violent if their family is threatened.

3. Child Friendly:

   They are indifferent to children.

4. Behavior:

   They are untrained beasts and hence their behavior is unpredictable. It is better to view them from a distance.

5. Riding Ease:

   They are fast runners, but not good to ride on.

6. Uses:

   They have a place in myth and legend as horses of knights and heroes. They can be trained to work in circuses.

Wild Horses - Horse Breed Concerns

1. Health Issues:

   Being adapted to forest life, they have built resistance against many diseases. In captivity, they may suffer from infections, listlessness and diseases of the alimentary canal.

2. Feeding:

   Wild horses are not meant to be fed by humans. They can subsist and thrive on natural vegetation.

3. Outfitting:

   Outfitting is not applicable to wild horses. Minimum saddle and bridle is enough.

Wild Horses - How to Choose a Horse Breed

1. What to Look for:

   Look for a horse with a steady temperament so that it would not be aggressive in the future.

2. What you will Need:

   A wild horse would require much free space, like that at a ranch. Synthetic food must be avoided and outfitting needs are minimal.