Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2024 i Faces People, Places, and World Culture for Kids and Children

Horses became domesticated—meaning people trained or adapted them to live in a human environment—about 5,500 years ago. Horses became vital to farm work and for transportation. Farmers in some countries still rely on them. Horses continue to be valued for their strength and speed. Here are five facts to start you on your journey. 1 Only one species of horse (Equus ferus caballus) is domesticated, but there are more than 400 different breeds of the species. Domesticated horses fall into one of five main classes: draft, warmblood, light, gaited, and pony. 2 What do you call a cross between a horse and a zebra? A zorse, of course! Zebras are close relatives of horses and can be interbred with them. A zorse can be easier to train than a zebra, but it…

Horseracing is one of the world’s oldest sports. It dates to 4500 B.C.E., when nomadic horsemen of Central Asia became expert riders and used racing to showcase their talents. Racing remains popular in Central Asian countries such as Mongolia, which has become known as the “land of the horse.” After the wheeled chariot was invented—around 3000 B.C.E.—someone came up with the idea of racing horse-drawn chariots. By 700 B.C.E., chariot racing was a popular sport in ancient Greece. The races involved teams of horses pulling a man standing in a chariot behind them. The races first took place at funerals held for Greek heroes. But they became so popular that arenas called hippodromes were built to host them. The oval track of the hippodrome included hairpin turns that were extremely…

The white horses galloping in the marshy delta of the Rhône River look like something straight out of a fairy tale. Along with the pink flamingos and the black bulls that also congregate there, the horses symbolize the untamed, natural beauty of the Camargue. The Camargue is a wedge-shaped delta in southern France where two arms of the Rhône flow into the Mediterranean Sea. The white horses of the Camargue are believed to be among the oldest free-roaming horses in the world. They live outdoors year-round, munching on marsh grass and other salt-loving native plants. Over many generations, the Camargue horses have evolved into sturdy, sure-footed animals that thrive in the shifting, watery landscape. The typical Camargue horses are small—technically, they are ponies—but they are exceptionally strong and hardy. They…

Each day, a 1,000-pound (454-kilogram) horse passes approximately 50 pounds (23 kilograms) of poop and urine. That’s a lot of muck to shovel! Over the years, people have found some pretty creative ways to make sure that waste doesn’t go to waste. Keeping the Grass Green Horse poop and urine are a major component of manure, which also often includes old barnyard bedding such as straw. Horse manure that has been allowed to compost for at least six months transforms into an excellent fertilizer. It is packed with soil-enriching nutrients, including nitrogen and potassium. It is used to fertilize gardens, trees, fields, pastures, and even abandoned mining sites that are being reclaimed. Seeing Stars None of the telescopes that German British astronomer Sir William Herschel (1738–1822) tried were powerful enough…

Feria del Caballo de Jerez Come take a festive horse-and-carriage ride around the five-square-mile (13-square-kilometer) park to see all that Spain’s Festival of the Horses has in store. Held annually in early May, the full program of equestrian events includes show-jumping, cowboy and classical dressage, and a rally. It is a showcase of the majestic horse’s talents.…

CRITTER CORNER The horse has been friend and helper to humans since Asian nomads tamed horses 5,500 years ago. For centuries, people depended on horses for transportation, farming, and hunting. Horses and their riders also were honored for their heroism in battle. But did you know that this domesticated animal originally roamed Earth as a wild animal? And that the first horses were closer in size to a modern-day large dog? A Rich History For millennia, humans have honored horses for their beauty, power, and speed. Between 32,000 and 12,000 years ago, Paleolithic (early Stone Age) peoples covered cave walls throughout France and Spain with painted animals, especially wild horses. The drawings found in the underground cave galleries in southwestern France’s Lascaux, for example, date to about 15,000 B.C.E. The…

Jockeys have the most dangerous job in professional sports. The men and women who race horses for a living risk serious injury and even death each time they get in the saddle. Fractured bones, concussions, and minor injuries are an everyday occurrence. Jockeys also have been permanently disabled, paralyzed, or even killed since the inception of professional horseracing. Despite the risks associated with their job, jockeys generally are the poorest paid athletes in professional sports. It’s true that the world’s top jockeys can become wealthy. If they ride a winning horse, they get a percentage of the huge winnings. But most riders struggle to make a living. Many of them earn less than $50 a race, and they supplement their income by working in stables and caring for horses. Yet,…

The seaside town of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer offers a taste of the historic traditions that are part of the Camargue region. In addition to its beautiful Mediterranean beaches, the town is a destination for pilgrims and tourists. They are drawn by picturesque religious celebrations that feature the Camargue horses and their gardian riders. Among the famous celebrations are back-to-back feast days in May. According to legend, the origins of the festival started when a small boat bumped onto the town beach in the early Christian era. The boat carried Marie Salomé and Marie Jacobé. The two women were friends of Jesus and were fleeing religious persecution after his death. In one version of the story, an Egyptian servant named Sara accompanied the two Maries. In another version, Sara was a local woman…

Have you ever wondered why domesticated horses wear U-shaped horseshoes but wild horses do not? It’s because domesticated horses engage in different activities and surfaces (such as pavement) than wild horses. These activities and surfaces are hard on hooves. Horseshoes provide hoof protection. Hoof Anatomy A hoof has many parts. Just as on a human foot, the front and back of a horse’s hoof are called the toe and the heel. Inside the hoof are nerves, bones, and blood vessels. They are protected by the external structures of the hoof, including the hoof wall, the sole, and the frog (no, not that kind of frog). The hoof wall is the hard part of the hoof that we see when horses are standing. The sole and the triangular pad of the…

Is a pony a horse? What is a mule? Can you really cross a horse with a zebra—and why would you want to? Horse organization is not so tough when you know the basics. Over the past 50 million years, horses have evolved into somewhat distinct classes. Today, experts recognize five major categories of horses: draft, light, gaited, warmblood, and pony. And there’s also a related group called nonhorse equines. Draft Horses Draft horses are bred to carry and pull heavy loads. They are tall—greater than 16 hands. A hand is a form of horse measurement that is equal to four inches (10.2 centimeters). So, an average draft horse is 64 inches (163 centimeters) high. A draft horse also is muscular, large (more than 1,600 pounds or 726 kilograms), and…

When the Spanish arrived in the Americas in the 1490s, the horses they brought with them were returning to the land of their ancestors. Prehistoric North American horses had died out more than 10,000 years earlier after the last ice age. But before they had ceased to exist on the continent, many of the animals had roamed northward and had crossed the Bering Strait land bridge that once linked Alaska and Siberia, Russia. Horses spread to Asia, northern Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. So, in 1493, when Christopher Columbus sailed from Spain and brought a herd of horses on his second voyage, the Spanish conquistadors were reintroducing the horse to its original Western Hemisphere home. Initially, the Spanish explored and claimed islands in the Caribbean. By the early 1500s,…

People have always loved horses. Some of the earliest humans painted pictures of horses on cave walls, such as the ones in Lascaux in southwestern France. Is it any wonder, then, that horses also have been a part of stories and mythology throughout the ages? One of the first places where humans created mythical horses was in the patterns of the stars in the heavens above them. The constellation Equuleus, which means “Little Horse,” is found in the northern sky. It is sometimes called Equus Prime, or “First Horse,” because it rises before Pegasus, another mythical horse constellation. Equuleus and Pegasus both originated in ancient Greek myths. Pegasus was a white winged stallion that was captured and tamed by the Greek hero Bellerophon. Bellerophon and Pegasus defeated many enemies together,…

There are many classic horse stories out there for kids to enjoy. Most of the titles listed below describe the relationship that develops between a young person and a horse. The books capture everything from the excitement of horseracing to the responsibility of horse ownership. But even the most engaging stories may be difficult to read in one sitting. So, to mark your place when you want to take a break, follow these steps to make a horse-head bookmark! Classic Books About Horses Black Beauty by Anna SewellMisty of Chincoteague by Marguerite HenryMy Friend Flicka by Mary O’Hara The Black Stallion by Walter Farley National Velvet by Enid Bagnold You Need » 6- x 6-inch square of colored paper, such as origami, gift wrap, or construction » contrasting sheet of…