Wildlife Guide · Global
Horse
Equus ferus caballus
A domesticated partner to humankind for over 5,000 years, and still a working animal for millions of families today.
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In brief
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.
By the WARN Research & Conservation TeamChecked against IUCN Red List & CITES sourcesLast updated
The horse is a large, hoofed herbivore domesticated from wild ancestors thousands of years ago and now found on every inhabited continent. Far beyond sport and companionship, horses remain essential working animals: tens of millions pull carts, carry loads, plough fields and haul bricks in some of the world's poorest regions. This guide covers horse biology, breeds and behaviour, and pays special attention to the welfare of working equines, whose daily labour underpins the livelihoods of families who depend on them.
~58 million
Domestic horses worldwide
~116 million
Working equines (horses, donkeys, mules) globally
~500,000
Equines working in brick kilns
25-30 yrs
Typical lifespan
Figures sourced from Wikipedia - Horse, Animal Diversity Web - Equus caballus, Brooke - Roles of working horses, donkeys and mules and other references on this page.
Horse: Quick Facts
| 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
- IUCN 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.
Did you know?
Horses can sleep both standing up and lying down: a special "stay apparatus" locks their leg joints so they can doze on their feet, but they must lie down to reach the deep REM sleep they need.
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.
Thoroughbred
England
Energetic, sensitive, athletic
Arabian
Arabian Peninsula
Intelligent, spirited, loyal
American Quarter Horse
United States
Calm, willing, versatile
Paint Horse
United States
Intelligent, willing, colourful
Appaloosa
United States
Hardy, versatile, spotted
Morgan
United States
Versatile, compact, willing
Tennessee Walking Horse
United States
Smooth-gaited, gentle, showy
Miniature Horse
United States/Europe
Friendly, curious, hardy
Shetland Pony
Scotland (Shetland Isles)
Hardy, strong, independent
Welsh Pony
Wales
Active, intelligent, hardy
Friesian
Netherlands
Noble, willing, dramatic
Andalusian
Spain
Proud, agile, trainable
Hanoverian
Germany
Athletic, balanced, rideable
Dutch Warmblood
Netherlands
Powerful, scopey, competitive
Irish Draught
Ireland
Sensible, strong, versatile
Clydesdale
Scotland
Gentle, feathered, powerful
Shire
England
Calm, massive, willing
Belgian Draft
Belgium
Strong, steady, docile
Percheron
France
Intelligent, active draft
Standardbred
United States
Sensible, gaited or trotter
Mustang
United States
Hardy, intelligent, spirited
Akhal-Teke
Turkmenistan
Enduring, loyal, hot-blooded
Lipizzan
Austria
Classical, agile, baroque
Haflinger
Austria/Italy
Gentle, sure-footed, chestnut
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 (its partner-network countries), 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.
How does the horse compare?
Horse: Frequently Asked Questions
Is the horse an endangered species?
How many working horses are there in the world?
How long do horses live?
What is a baby horse called?
How fast can a horse run?
What do horses eat?
Where do horses live?
Are horses dangerous?
How big is a horse?
Sources & References
Population figures, conservation status and biological facts on this page are drawn from authoritative scientific and intergovernmental sources.
Terms used on this page
Plain-English definitions, from our wildlife and conservation glossary.
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