Tuesday, May 28, 2013

What did Horses Look Like Millions of Years ago?

Now and then, it's fun to tell you some interesting facts about horses. Do you think they always looked the way they do today? If you're thinking they haven't changed at all, you'd be mistaken. For example, millions of years ago, horses were about the size of a large dog. Instead of having rounded hooves, or feet, as they do today, they had toes! There were three long toes and the hind feet and four on the front feet. Each toe had a tiny hoof. Wouldn't it feel strange having feet with different numbers of toes? Over thousands of years, the separate toes wore off so that horses had the hoof they have today.
What kind of diet did horses enjoy thousands of years ago? They ate small shrubs and trees, along with grass. It doesn't sound too appetizing to us, but they thrived on it.
Who discovered that horses were good workers? It was the Chinese. They found out that horses could work hard and very reliable on rocky surfaces. They used them as pack animals. Later on, they deduced that it would be much more comfortable for them to have something to sit on, besides the horse's back. They designed a saddle. There was still a problem, though. They couldn't direct the horse anywhere, so they designed a bridle, which allowed them to steer the horse. After that, they used horses in battles. The Chinese were very clever, don't you think?

8 comments:

  1. Wow, how fascinating!
    I think it would definitely feel strange to have feet with different number of toes... but then again a million years ago it might have felt normal and I would have laughed at the thought of having an even number of toes lol

    Yes, the Chinese were very clever :D

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    1. I'm sure I wouldn't have even been able to stand up with different numbers of toes on my feet! Yikes. I think horses must have been so athletic, just to be able to do anything with those odd-looking feet. D

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  2. Evolution is an amazing process. It's hard to believe ancient horses were so small!

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    1. It is indeed. When you look at ancient pictures of horses, they hardly resemble what they are today.

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  3. I agree with Sherry--evolution is amazing! Awesome post and new follower here :D Also, thank you for signing up for 3 Ups! Your "Upee" is Ms. Carrie-Anne over at http://inkinthebook.blogspot.com/ No need to rush in giving Carrie-Anne her ups. The important thing is that you'll be making her day :D

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  4. Thank you so much for stopping by, Randi Lee and for being a new follower! I'll try not to disappoint you and I'm anxious to cheer for Ms. Carrie-Ann as well.

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  5. It was seeing pictures of the horse over the millennia that got me interested in evolution to begin with. Very fascinating.

    Tim Brannan
    The Other Side

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  6. Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting, Tim. It is intriguing to study how horses have changed over thousands, or millions of years. I'm going to be writing more on different topics related to horses so I hope you visit again.
    Best wishes.

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