 | Horse | Power |
|---|---|---|
| Taxonomy | Genus Equus (E. ferus caballus) | |
| Classification | One domesticated species with many breeds; generally defined as over 14.2 hands (148 cm) at maturity | |
| Coloration | Solid colors: bay, chestnut, black, gray, white, etc. | |
| Height at withers | 142-173 cm (14-17 hands) typically; draft breeds up to 183 cm | |
| Weight | 380-1,000 kg depending on breed | |
| Body Structure | Varied body types from light (Arabian) to heavy (draft) | |
| Chest Circumference | 160-220 cm depending on breed | |
| Neck Length | 50-70 cm | |
| Leg Length | Front leg: 80-110 cm, hind leg: 85-115 cm | |
| Shoulder Angle | 45-55 degrees (more vertical in racing breeds) | |
| Mane Length | 10-30 cm, falls to one side of neck | |
| Tail Characteristics | 60-90 cm long with hair throughout length | |
| Hoof Diameter | 10-15 cm diameter | |
| Ear Length | 15-25 cm | |
| Domestication Status | Fully domesticated for ~6,000 years | |
| Domestication History | First domesticated ~4000-3000 BCE in the Eurasian Steppe (Kazakhstan/Ukraine region); selective breeding for specific traits began ~1500 BCE | |
| Selective Breeding | Extensively bred for over 300 specialized breeds for different purposes (draft, racing, riding, etc.) | |
| Historic Uses | Transportation, warfare, agriculture, hunting, sport, companionship, food source, religious significance | |
| Current Human Uses | Sport, recreation, therapy, limited agricultural work, companionship, meat (in some regions) | |
| Trainability | Highly trainable; can learn complex tasks through positive reinforcement | |
| Temperament | Wide range: calm to spirited, bred for trainability | |
| Fight or Flight Distance | 5-10 meters in domesticated horses | |
| Lifespan | 25-30 years in domestication, up to 40 for some individuals | |
| Herd Size | Feral herds: 5-20 individuals | |
| Social Structure | Hierarchical bands led by dominant mare | |
| Primary Vocalization | Neigh (1-3 seconds duration, 1-2 kHz frequency) | |
| Top Speed | 40-48 km/h sustained, sprints to 70 km/h | |
| Stride Length | 3-7 meters at full gallop | |
| Daily Food Intake | 1.5-2.5% of body weight daily (5-12 kg of hay) | |
| Digestive Efficiency | 70% fiber digestibility on quality forage | |
| Diet Composition | Primarily grasses; can thrive on timothy, alfalfa, clover; requires balanced minerals | |
| Feeding Behavior | Grazes 10-17 hours daily, prefers short tender grass | |
| Gut Transit Time | 36-72 hours | |
| Water Consumption | 30-45 liters daily, cannot go more than 48 hours without water | |
| Gestation Period | 330-345 days (11-11.5 months) | |
| Native Range | Originally Eurasian steppes | |
| Current Geographic Distribution | Domesticated worldwide on all continents except Antarctica; feral populations in North America, Australia, Europe | |
| Habitat Type | Adaptable to diverse habitats; naturally evolved for open grasslands | |
| Elevation Range | Sea level to 3,500m (specialized mountain breeds) | |
| Climate Tolerance | Adaptable to temperatures from -40°C to +40°C with appropriate care | |
| Seasonal Migration | Limited seasonal movement in wild; not migratory in domestication | |
| Daily Sleep Time | 2-3 hours deep sleep, 2-4 hours light sleep | |
| Natural Predators | Historically: wolves, bears, large cats | |
| Conservation Status | Domesticated: Not threatened; Wild (Przewalski's): Endangered | |
| Population Numbers | Domesticated: ~60 million worldwide; Wild (Przewalski's): ~2,000 | |
| Population Trend | Domesticated: Stable; Wild (Przewalski's): Increasing slowly | |
| Primary Threats | Wild populations: habitat loss, hybridization with domestic horses | |
| Protected Areas | Przewalski's horse reintroduced to protected areas in Mongolia, China, Kazakhstan | |
| Conservation Efforts | Captive breeding, reintroduction programs, genetic preservation of rare breeds | |
| Genetic Viability | Most domestic horse breeds have good genetic diversity; some breeds have genetic bottleneck concerns due to limited founding stock | |
| Genetic Characteristics | 64 chromosomes, extensive human-guided selection | |
| Vision Range | 350 degrees field of view, dichromatic color vision | |
| Common Health Issues | Colic, laminitis, navicular disease, heaves | |
| Hybridization | Produces fertile offspring when bred with ponies; produces sterile hybrid offspring (mules) when bred with donkeys | |
| Skin Thickness | 1.5-3 mm | |
| Coat Seasonal Changes | Grows winter coat 2-3 times thicker than summer coat | |
| Sweat Production | High: 10-15 liters per hour during exertion | |
| Body Temperature | 37.5-38.5°C | |
| Dental Formula | 3.1.3-4.3 (40-42 teeth total) | |
| Average Longevity in Zoos | 25-30 years | |
| Brain Weight | 400-500 grams | |
| Muscle Fiber Type | Higher percentage of slow-twitch fibers in draft breeds, more fast-twitch in racing breeds | |
| Adaptation to Altitude | Limited adaptation in most breeds; some mountain breeds can thrive up to 3,000m | |
| Thermoregulation | Lower heat tolerance, effective in cold through coat thickness | |
| Reproduction Rate | Typically single foal every 1-2 years, breeding can be year-round in domestication | |
| Sexual Maturity | Females: 15-24 months, Males: 20-36 months | |
| Foot Structure | Single toe (monodactyl) with thick hoof wall (6-10 mm) | |
| Metabolic Rate | Basal metabolic rate: approximately 1.5-2 times expected for body mass | |
| Definition | Power is the rate at which work is done, or energy is transmitted. | |
| Unit | watt = joules/second | |
| Common symbol(s) | P | |
| Example | My car's battery can provide 500 amps at 12 volts, which equals 6kW of power. | |
| Symbol | P | |
| Named After | James Watt | |
| Derivations from other quantities | P = w/t (power = work divided by time) | |
| Relation to “Work” | Rate at which work is performed. | |
| Everyday Example | Horsepower (1 horsepower = 750 Watts). |
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