EQUINE
STALLION = intact male
GELDING = neutered male
MARE = adult female
FOAL = baby
FILLY = female foal
COLT = male foal
HAND = 4 inches
DRAFT = pull or drag
A. DRAFT HORSES
Draft horses are bred for their strength and
weight. They are intelligent, have good memories
and are easy to train. They work hard for their
owners. They were first used in the Middle Ages
for agriculture and hauling. The number of draft
horses used in agriculture was at its peak at
the beginning of the 20th century. After the
invention of the tractor, however, the use of
the draft horse declined drastically. Draft
horses are still used today in parades and circuses
and on some farms.
Draft horses eat approximately 200 bales of
hay a year. They begin to work when they are
about 2 ½ years old. It takes that long
for their muscles and bones to be strong enough
so no harm will come to the horses. Horses rest
mainly standing up with their eyes half closed.
They will spend time lying down and sometimes
even stretched out on their side.
Draft horses have the largest eyes of any
animal. They can see widely as well as straight
ahead. Blinders are used to keep them from looking
back and to limit their range of vision so that
they will pay attention to their command of
rein. They have large, deep teeth. The front
teeth cut and the back teeth grind. The age
of a horse can be determined by how the teeth
are worn down. The average life span for draft
horses is 25 years.
The height of a draft horse is measured in
hands. A hand equals 4 inches measured at the
shoulders or point of withers. Here are 3 common
breeds of a draft horse:
• Percheron horses are black or gray.
They will grow to between 1,500 to 2,000 lbs.
and will stand 16-17 hands high (5-6 ft). They
originated from France.
• Belgian horses are chestnut in color
with a blond mane. They will reach a weight
of 1,500 to 2,000 lbs. and will stand 17-18
hands high. They originated in Belgium.
• Clydesdale horses are bay and white
and originated in Scotland. Springy, long reaching
leg action makes them attractive for parades.
The most famous example of draft horses is Budweiser’s
Clydesdales.
B. DONKEYS
The most common donkeys are gray in color.
A common distinguishing mark on donkeys is a
dorsal stripe across the shoulders and down
the center of the back. Their long ears are
full size at birth.
Donkeys make excellent pack animals and do
well pulling carts but are not smooth for riding.
Gold miners used them because they were sure-footed,
little and strong. The donkey was domesticated
in Egypt. Miniature donkeys (36” or less
tall) are commonly used for large flocks of
grazing sheep to chase predators away.
BURRO = Spanish for donkey
JACKASS = slang for donkey
JACK = male
JENNIE = female
GESTATION PERIOD = 12 months
C. MULES
A mule is a hybrid animal meaning they are
crossbred. The mother is a horse mare and the
father is a donkey. A hinny is the opposite;
it’s mother is a donkey mare and the father
is a male horse. Mules and hinnies cannot breed.
This animal inherits the courage, speed and
strength of a horse and the patience, sure-footedness
and ability to survive on nothing but grass
from the donkey.
A mule has large feet, a strong back and long
ears. They are used for work especially planting
of cotton, tobacco and sugar. The little ones
are cotton mules; large ones are farm mules;
larger ones are sugar mules; and the biggest
are draft mules.
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