Horses

Here are the differences between horses and camels and their different uses: Their primary differences are: Speed Digestion Tolerance to the harsh desert climate Spitting Eyelashes and the third eyelid Sleeping habit  Life span Structure of the foot  Number and structure of mammary glands and teats The direction of penis and urination  Their uses differ primarily in: Riding, racing, and shows Transportation Meat Milk Beauty products and soaps Hair Leather If you want to learn all about the differences between horses and camels and how their uses differ, then you’re in the right place. Let’s get started! Differences Between Horses and Camels and Their Different Uses? I can make a General in 5 minutes, but a good horse is hard to replace. Abraham Lincoln This quote from Lincoln testifies to the glory of horses and their service to mankind for centuries. Before the age of fighter jets or Mercedes trucks, horses served as key military equipment. Horses are a symbol of strength, power, speed, and pride. They are one of the most loyal domesticated animals.  Although the use and purpose of keeping horses have changed over time, today’s horses still serve humans through sports competitions, recreation, and even transportation in some developing countries.  A horse is an entity used for expensive sports like equestrian (horse riding) shows and polo matches to the cheapest mode of transportation in poorer countries.  On the other hand, camels are not exactly slouched in this arena. Often found in the stretches of deserts such as in the Middle East and Africa, the camel—also known as the “ship of the desert”—is well adapted to survive the harsh desert climate. Camels can perform well in places where horses may not be a great option. What Are the Comparative Human Uses of Horses and Camels? Both camels and horses have been used in the past for similar purposes but in different environments.  In this section, we will be discussing the comparative efficacy of both horse and camel for different activities and services to human beings.  #1 Riding, Racing, and Shows There are dozens of events involving horse racing worldwide, such as flat racing, harness racing, jump racing, steeplechase, and endurance riding in many regions worldwide.   Many different equestrian sports are played worldwide under the International Federation for Equestrian Sports platform, with slight cultural modifications for different cultures. These sports include: Polo Coleo in South America Doma Vaquera in Spain Tent-pegging in Pakistan and India There are dozens of international horse shows conducted worldwide each year, such as the London International Horse Show and AQHA World Championship.   Although less popular than horses, camel racing has also been very popular for ages. Many camel-racing events occur legally or illegally in the Middle East, UAE, Sudan, and Indian subcontinent.  The camel race with the biggest prize money in Australia has a prize purse of 500,000 Australian dollars. The Sheikh Zayed International Camel Endurance Race and Boulia Desert Sand Race are conducted in Queensland, Australia.  Believe it or not, there are camel shows as well. One of the biggest camel shows and fairs is conducted in Rajasthan, India.  #2 Transportation Humans have used horses and camels almost equally and effectively for carriage and transportation. Both species have been used to carry the troops, weapons, goods for trade, and pull carts and trolleys.  A horse can carry 20% of its body weight safely. On average a horse weighs 880 lbs (400 kg). So it can carry 176 lbs (80 kg) safely. The table below shows the different weights of horses based on their types. Horse Type Horse Weight Draft 1,500–2,200 lbs (680–998 kg) Light 800–1,500 lbs (363–680 kg) Ponies 300–900 lbs (136–408 kg) Miniature 100–350 lbs (45–159 kg) The maximum weight a horse can carry is about 400 lbs (181 kg). Even today, horses and mules (a cross between a mare and donkey) carry military equipment in hilly areas.  A camel can carry more weight than a horse, up to 600 lbs (272 kg), and is more trusted in deserts and unstable terrains.  It can walk for longer distances without food and water and is more successful in the huge stretches of deserts in the Middle East, Africa, Pakistan, and India. So, as far as transportation is concerned, the camel is more successful in this area than the horse.  #3 Meat In human history, horse meat has been used extensively for food during drought, wars, and even on cultural and religious events. Horse meat is as nutritious as beef and has a slightly sweeter taste due to the high glycogen in horse meat.  The color of horse meat is red and contains 21 g of protein, 3 g of fat, and has fewer calories than lean beef—108 kcal per 3.5 oz. (100 g) compared to 120 kcal per 3.5 oz. (100 g). The horse meat contains more iron and many other minerals and has slightly more protein than beef. There are some cultural and religious promotions as well as hurdles in regards to consuming horse meat. In countries like Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan, horse meat is not consumed except illegally.  However, China is the largest producer of horse meat, followed by central Asia and other countries. Horse meat can be difficult to chew, especially in the case of meat from older horses.  Over 1 million horses are slaughtered each year for meat, and most of them include: Ex-racehorses Sick or injured horses Older horses.  Camel meat has been extensively used throughout history. With a good moisture content of 76–78%, a protein content of 20 g and fat content of 6 g per 3.5 oz. (100 g), and a high concentration of minerals and vitamins, camel meat is very popular in many communities around the world. Camel meat contains around 136 kcal per 3.5 oz. (100 g). The table below shows the comparison of the nutritional contents of different meat products per 3.5 oz. (100 g) serving. Type of Meat Calories Proteins Fats Horse Meat 108 kcal 20.6 g 2.6 g Lean Beef …

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Here’s whether horses sit: Horses can’t “sit down,” but they can “sit up” after they rise from lying down. The duration of this “sit-up” position can be improved with training. Anyway, this behavior is neither natural nor essential for horses. If you want to learn all about why horses can’t sit and why that is so, then you’re in the right place. Keep reading! Do Horses Sit? Horses don’t sit. Believe it or not, horses actually can’t “sit” as we do. Let’s learn a bit more about horses to see why: Do Horses Need To Sleep? Obviously, the answer is yes. All creatures need to rest or sleep. Yet, how do horses do it? Let’s explore that question.  The scene of a rider seated on a saddle and enjoying the sitting trot is common to most of us. But sleep is a vitally important necessity of any living being, and horses are no exception.  After hours of physical exertion, a horse is in dire need of rest. The consequences of sleep deprivation can be disastrous for a horse.  A sleep-deprived horse can become emaciated, and its ability to control its body is severely curtailed. The animal’s metabolism is also disturbed, and it can lose weight despite more feed intake.  During the deepest phase of sleep, the brain develops the animal’s long-term memory. It is also when much of the nutrients it consumed are absorbed into the blood. Hence, sleep deprivation can have a negative impact on the memory, learning, and overall well-being of the animal.  So, it is clear that horses need sleep. But, their sleep is different from ours. Is Horses’ Sleep Different From Humans’ Sleep? So, what’s unique about the sleep of a horse?  The Duration The sleep pattern of an adult horse is quite different from humans. While humans require at least eight hours of daily sleep, an adult horse sleeps for only three hours every day—the sleep pattern of a horse changes with age.  A young foal may sleep for as much as twelve hours a day until about three months of age. As they move towards adulthood, they reduce the number of naps and prefer to rest in an upright position.  Sleeping Behavior  The horses also use a buddy system when sleeping. In this system, one group member allows others to sleep while he himself acts as a watch.  The watch-horse position is rotated among the group. This is an evolutionary adaptation because the horses are prey animals in natural ecosystems and are continuously faced with threats. Although many are now domesticated, they still retain the natural instincts of wild horses.  The Position It is a well-known fact that horses sleep while standing. The details of that phenomenon are discussed below: Don’t Horses Need To Sit Or Lie Down for Sleep? Now, let’s come to our main point. Can our equine friends sit or lie flat on the ground as we do to sleep?  The answer lies in the unique anatomy of a horse’s legs. The horse is blessed with a unique group of core muscles, tendons, and ligaments which “lock” various joints in the hip region of both fore and hind legs.  This arrangement allows a mare or stallion to enjoy the light phase of its sleep without sitting or lying down. This feature is very useful for the horse because it allows it to ward off muscular fatigue without collapsing to the ground. How Does the Joint Locking Work? This “stay apparatus” allows the muscular giant to enjoy the sleep in a standing position with virtually no muscular activity.  The animal shifts its entire body weight on the three legs, allowing the fourth to rest in a flexed state with almost no weight on it.  The animal shifts the weight periodically to rest a different leg each time. The horses play with this apparatus by shifting their hip and locking the patella bone into position afterward.  In this way, a horse can reduce the muscular fatigue of each leg without lying flat. So this “stay apparatus” is very helpful for large mammals.  In the absence of this apparatus, an animal may never handle the fatigue incurred during its running activities.   What Is the REM Phase of a Horse’s Sleep? Is this standing-while-sleeping sufficient for a horse?  Although they can get rid of fatigue while in a standing position, they also have to lie down for the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep phase.  During this phase of deep sleep, a horse relaxes its muscles completely. The length of this phase is only 30-40 minutes in 24 hours and is usually accomplished in phases of variable length. But horses don’t have to sit to lie flat on earth to sleep. Why Is Sitting Down Impossible for a Horse? It’s quite a surprising fact that the strongly muscular legs of horses can’t help it to sit down as a dog or cat does. Why?  The bending of its legs is an anatomical impossibility for the horse. The upper body of a horse is quite massive, while their legs, although strongly built, are relatively thin.  So, if the animal tries to bend its hind legs, its own huge weight could result in the animal crashing down onto the ground with the risk of severe and life-threatening injuries.  Moreover, the digestive anatomy of the horse is such that the weight of the horse will be placed on its digestive tract in the sitting position. So, the sitting position of a horse can lead to digestive issues, such as disrupting the flow of blood towards the digestive system leading to the development of excessive gas pressure and colic. Hence, resting in a standing position is a better option.  This evolutionary adaptation is very advantageous for them in the wild because their ancestors continuously faced threats from their natural predators.  So, they had to be ready to respond quickly to any predator threat and run away. So by sleeping in a standing position, the horse will be able to …

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This is whether or not human milk horses, and if not, why that’s the case. In short: Horses were not bred to be used for milk production. So if you want to know all about milking horses, then you’re in the right place. Let’s get started! Do Humans Milk Horses? Who says that humans don’t milk mares? (Mare means a female horse.) Actually, we do.  Did you know that humans have been milking mares for centuries and still do?  Here are some examples: Cleopatra, the ancient Egyptian Queen, would take baths in donkey milk to preserve her beauty. Even today, mare’s and donkey milk is considered excellent for human skin and are often found in many beauty products. In Europe, horse milk, even today, is used mostly for cosmetic purposes. As far as drinking is concerned, horse milk is consumed in central Asia, Russia, Tibet, and some parts of China. Although Europeans are less inclined to drink mare milk, some do. There is a variation of mare’s milk that is sold to drink in France. In ancient times, donkey milk was used to feed orphan kids and to treat many skin and liver illnesses. A fermented mare’s milk product called Kumis is made and drunk by nomadic Mongolians in central Asia.  Although horse milk is healthful and tastes good, horse milk is not an economically viable food option for humans because it is expensive to produce, less nutritious, and not easily available.  Horses were not bred to be used for milk production To advance our discussion on mare’s milk consumption, let us first discuss the composition of mare’s milk so we can answer the age-old question if horse milk is similar to that of human breast milk. What Is in Horse Milk? Milk is milk, right? Well, not necessarily. Let’s see what horse milk contains. Composition and Comparison With Human Breast Milk A lot of literature says that the composition of mare’s milk is similar to that of humans. The main differences include the amounts of fat, lactose, and proteins, especially the protein casein.  With the total amount of solid contents coming in at about 10-11%, horse milk is thin and contains more water than human breast milk, cow’s milk, goat milk, or sheep (ewe’s) milk. It also contains much less fat.  However, it does contain much more protein and calcium. The lactose— that is, the sugar in milk—is in almost comparable concentration. Normal values of different nutrients in mare’s and human milk are listed below.  Nutrient/Mineral Mare’s (female horse) Milk Human Breast Milk Fat (gram/kg) 12.1 gram 36.4 gram Protein (gram/kg) 21.4 gram 14.2 gram Lactose (gram/kg) 63 gram 67 gram Casein (gram/kg) 10 gram 3.7 gram Calcium (mg/100ml) 102 mg 30 mg Magnesium (mg/100 ml) 9 mg 3 mg Not An Exact Copy, But Could It Be a Substitute for Human Breast Milk? As the facts show, we cannot say that horse milk is an exact copy of human breast milk. If it was, it would be used as a replacement for human breast milk to supplement breastfeeding.  Could it be used for that purpose anyway? We have to remember that the difference in the composition is due to the fact that mammals produce milk for their young. The young of each species have different nutritional needs.  Yet, it is clear that horse milk can be consumed by humans and is consumed in many different regions of the world.  Then, why is it not popular or readily available at the grocery store? Does it have a bad taste? No, of course not. Although mare’s milk is thinner than human or cow’s milk due to its low fat, it is drinkable and doesn’t have a bad taste or smell. It is sweeter than cow’s milk and tastes like diluted cow’s milk with a touch of almond flavor. I would say that taste is not the issue. Even some people don’t like the taste of cow’s milk. Then, what’s the reason why mare’s milk is not consumed equally to other milks made by other mammalian species?  Why Do We Not All Drink Mare’s Milk? The answer lies in the following factors: Low Production As you know, the sole purpose of a breeding mare is to nourish a neonate (baby mammal, in this case, a horse) to make it a healthy horse. Horses today are now kept and bred for racing, beauty shows, and aesthetic preferences. In all these cases, milk production is a secondary, or I would say, a tertiary trait to look for.  The average milk yield of a mare is 11.6-23.3 qt./day (11-22 liter/day), which is less than that of the smallest cow breed. It is also important to note that the milk yield of the mare is not enough to fulfill all the necessary requirements of its own foal after it gets older than 2 months.  While nutritionally important early on, foals eat more solid foods and consume less mare’s milk after two months. Moreover, some horse owners don’t milk mares to keep the calf optimally growing.  Here arises an important question:  “Why don’t we improve the horse breeds for milk production?” The answer is we do. Continuous efforts are being made to improve equine milk production, and the industry is reviving, but still, the main purpose of the breeding mare is to produce healthy foals to make good horses. Low Nutritional Value Despite the many health benefits, well-known history of feeding human infants animal milk as a substitute for human breast milk, horse milk just doesn’t measure up.  Mare’s milk has more water when compared to cow’s milk and therefore provides less fat, proteins, and other important nutrients. Therefore, the nutritive value of horse milk is far less than that of milk from cows, buffalos, camels, sheep, goats, and even humans. The Purpose of a Mare Is To Produce Healthy Foals, Not Produce Milk Would you cook food in your brand new Mercedes? Of course not. That’s not its purpose. Likewise, horses were never intended or …

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