There are more than 300 breeds of horse in the world today, developed for many different uses. The average lifespan of a domestic horse is 25 to 30 years. Uncommonly, a few animals live into their 40s and, occasionally, beyond. The oldest verifiable record was “Old Billy”, a 19th-century horse that lived to the age of 62.
Horses range from the very slim and slender (e.g. Akhal Teke) to massive and muscular (e.g. Ardenner) — some are built for speed, some for strength, some for nimbleness, some for steadiness, but most for some combination of these.
Horses are highly social herd animals that prefer to live in a group. There also is a linear dominance hierarchy in any herd. They will establish a “pecking order” for the purpose of determining which herd member directs the behavior of others, eats and drinks first, and so on.
Horses communicate in various ways, including vocalizations such as nickering, squealing or whinnying; touch, through mutual grooming or nuzzling; smell; and body language.
Horses have bones and ligaments (the elastic bands that connect bones at the joints) in their legs that can lock together in a special way. That allows the animals to be completely relaxed while standing.
