# Horse — Facts, Threats & Conservation

*Equus ferus caballus*

> The horse (Equus ferus caballus) is a domesticated mammal kept worldwide for transport, work, sport and companionship; it is not a threatened species, but the welfare of the tens of millions of working horses in lower-income countries is a serious global concern.

**IUCN status:** Domesticated  ·  **WARN range:** Global

## Quick facts
| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Lifespan | 25-30 years (some reach 40+) |
| Weight | 380-1,000 kg (varies by breed) |
| Size | 14-17 hands (about 142-173 cm) at the withers |
| Diet | Herbivore - grass, hay and forage (~7-11 kg/day) |
| Gestation | About 340 days (range 320-370) |
| Young | Usually a single foal |
| Baby name | Foal (colt if male, filly if female) |
| Group name | Herd (a working group may be called a team) |
| Top speed | ~40-48 km/h galloping; 70+ km/h record sprint |
| CITES | Not listed (domesticated) |

## Scientific classification
- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Mammalia
- **Order:** Perissodactyla
- **Family:** Equidae
- **Genus:** Equus
- **Species:** Equus ferus
- **Subspecies:** Equus ferus caballus

## Conservation status
- **Status:** Not Evaluated (domesticated)
- **Population:** ~58 million domestic horses worldwide; ~116 million working equines (horses, donkeys, mules) combined
- **Trend:** Stable / abundant
- **Assessed:** N/A - domesticated species not assessed by the IUCN Red List
- **CITES:** Not listed in CITES Appendices
- As a domesticated animal the horse is not assessed by the IUCN Red List and is not regulated under CITES. The closely related wild Przewalski's horse is assessed separately and is not the subject of this guide.

## Key facts: Horse
- Horses are domesticated animals, not a wild or IUCN-threatened species, and have lived alongside humans for roughly 5,000-6,000 years.
- An estimated 116 million working equines - horses, donkeys and mules - support the livelihoods of families across lower-income regions through transport, farming and haulage.
- Around half a million equines labour in brick kilns, an environment linked to heat stress, overloading, lameness and injury.
- Common welfare problems for working horses include poorly fitting harnesses, untreated wounds, dehydration, lameness and inadequate rest, water and shade.
- Horses are highly social herd animals with strong flight instincts, acute senses and the ability to sleep both standing and lying down.
- Hundreds of breeds exist, from heavy draught horses bred for pulling power to light, fast riding horses, all belonging to the same subspecies.

## Biology and behaviour
Horses are odd-toed ungulates that bear their weight on a single large hoof on each leg. They are grazing herbivores, eating little and often and consuming roughly 7-11 kg of forage a day. Adults typically stand 14-17 hands (about 142-173 cm) at the withers and weigh from around 380 kg in light riding types to 1,000 kg in heavy draught breeds. Horses are prey animals with eyes set wide for near-panoramic vision, mobile ears, and a powerful flight response. They are intensely social, naturally living in herds with clear bonds and hierarchy, and can rest standing thanks to a stay apparatus in their legs, lying down only for deeper sleep.

## Breeds and domestication
Although the world's horses span hundreds of breeds, they all belong to a single subspecies, Equus ferus caballus. Selective breeding over millennia has produced distinct types: heavy draught horses such as the Shire and Belgian, bred for slow, immense pulling power; agile light horses such as the Arabian and Thoroughbred, bred for speed and endurance; and countless regional working and pony breeds adapted to local climates and tasks. Domestication transformed human history, enabling long-distance travel, agriculture, trade and transport long before the machine age - roles that horses still fill in much of the world today.

## Working horses and their welfare
In many lower-income countries the horse is first and foremost a working animal. Together with donkeys and mules, working horses haul water, goods and people, plough smallholdings, and carry bricks and building materials. These animals frequently labour long hours in heat and dust, and welfare assessments routinely find high rates of thinness, hoof and limb problems, harness wounds and exhaustion. Brick kilns, which rely on hundreds of thousands of equines, are among the harshest environments. Practical improvements - better-fitting harnesses, adequate water, shade and rest, wound care, hoof trimming and farrier access, and lighter or better-distributed loads - can dramatically improve the lives of these animals and, in turn, the families who depend on them.

## Horses and people
Beyond work, horses serve as companions, sport and competition animals, therapy partners and cultural symbols. This breadth of roles means horse welfare varies enormously - from pampered competition horses to working animals with little access to veterinary care. Because horses are so widespread and economically vital, raising awareness of humane handling, nutrition, hoof care and harnessing has a global reach, supporting both animal welfare and human livelihoods.

## Light riding horse vs heavy draught horse
| Feature | Light riding horse | Heavy draught horse |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Typical height | 14-16 hands | 16-19 hands |
| Typical weight | 380-550 kg | 700-1,000 kg |
| Built for | Speed and endurance | Slow, powerful pulling |
| Example breeds | Arabian, Thoroughbred | Shire, Belgian, Clydesdale |
| Common roles | Riding, racing, sport | Carting, ploughing, haulage |

## Horse Breeds Guide
From the Thoroughbred and Arabian to the Quarter Horse, Friesian, Clydesdale and 20 more — explore 24 of the world's most searched horse breeds with temperament, conformation, common health issues and care guidance.

Full breed library (24 guides): https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/horse#breeds

- **Thoroughbred:** The ultimate racing athlete — refined, hot-blooded and bred for speed over middle distances. — https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/horse/thoroughbred
- **Arabian:** One of the oldest breeds on Earth — dished profile, high tail carriage and legendary desert endurance. — https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/horse/arabian
- **American Quarter Horse:** America's favourite all-rounder — explosive sprint speed and a steady mind for ranch and trail. — https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/horse/american-quarter-horse
- **Paint Horse:** Distinctive coat patterns on a muscular stock-horse frame. — https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/horse/paint-horse
- **Appaloosa:** Famous leopard-spotted coat and striped hooves from Nez Perce breeding. — https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/horse/appaloosa
- **Morgan:** One of America's oldest breeds — compact power and all-round ability. — https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/horse/morgan
- **Tennessee Walking Horse:** Renowned for its running walk — a smooth, ground-covering gait. — https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/horse/tennessee-walking-horse
- **Miniature Horse:** Horse proportions in a tiny package — popular as companions and driving ponies. — https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/horse/miniature-horse
- **Shetland Pony:** A tough northern pony that pulls far above its weight. — https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/horse/shetland-pony
- **Welsh Pony:** Elegant Welsh ponies excel in children's sport and driving. — https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/horse/welsh-pony
- **Friesian:** Jet-black baroque horse with flowing mane and high-stepping movement. — https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/horse/friesian
- **Andalusian:** The classical Spanish baroque horse of dressage and bullfighting tradition. — https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/horse/andalusian
- _…and 12 more breeds at the link above._

## What WARN does
The World Animal Rescue Network does not currently fund horse or working-equine programmes. The domestic horse falls outside our funded focus countries (Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brazil and Colombia), and at this launch stage our resources are directed to wildlife habitat protection and tackling the illegal wildlife trade in those regions. This guide is educational, search-focused content created to build global awareness of working-animal welfare as part of WARN's broader mission. We are honest about our scope: we cannot claim to fund horse rescue, and we encourage readers who want to help working horses directly to seek out established equine-welfare organisations.

Your gift to the World Animal Rescue Network supports our launch-stage work protecting wildlife habitat and fighting the illegal wildlife trade in the countries we fund. We don't currently run horse programmes, but reading and sharing guides like this helps build global awareness of animal welfare - and every donation strengthens our mission to protect animals where the need is greatest.

## Frequently asked questions: Horse
### Is the horse an endangered species?
No. The domestic horse is an abundant, domesticated animal and is not evaluated by the IUCN as a threatened species. (The separate wild Przewalski's horse is a different, threatened lineage.) The main welfare concern for domestic horses is the condition of the tens of millions that work in lower-income regions.

### How many working horses are there in the world?
There are an estimated 116 million working equines - horses, donkeys and mules combined - worldwide, concentrated in lower-income countries where they support farming, transport and trade for millions of families.

### How long do horses live?
Most domestic horses live between 25 and 30 years, and some reach their late 30s or even 40s with good care, nutrition and veterinary attention.

### What is a baby horse called?
A baby horse is called a foal. A young male is a colt and a young female is a filly. A group of horses is usually called a herd.

### How fast can a horse run?
A galloping horse typically reaches about 40-48 km/h (25-30 mph), and the fastest sprinting horses have been recorded above 70 km/h over short distances.

### What do horses eat?
Horses are herbivores that graze on grass, hay and other forage, eating little and often - roughly 7-11 kg of food per day - and need constant access to clean water.

## Sources
- [Wikipedia - Horse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse)
- [Animal Diversity Web - Equus caballus](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Equus_caballus/)
- [Brooke - Roles of working horses, donkeys and mules](https://www.thebrooke.org/our-work/we-work-animals/roles-working-horses-donkeys-and-mules)
- [PMC - Working donkeys and mules in brick kilns](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7201042/)
- [ScienceDirect - Risk factors for poor welfare in working equids](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1090023309003815)

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Full guide: https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/wildlife-guides/horse