Here at Maranatha Farm we just have a few horses for the fun of riding and the pleasure of their company. But in many parts of the world farmers keep horses for draft. That means that the horses pull wagons, carts, and plows. Long ago in this country horses were the main source of transportation, like cars and trucks are used today. People rode horses or rode in wagons and coaches to get places. They used horses to pull big stage coaches like we use buses today. Horses and mules worked in the farmers' fields, plowing and pulling mowers and harvesters. But today most farmers use tractors in this country. The Amish people, however, still use horse power. Have you ever heard some one say that a car engine has so much "horse power"? What does that mean? It means that the engine has as much power as that number of horses pulling a certain weight a certain distance.
Horses eat grass, hay, and grain. But they only have one stomach like you and me, unlike a cow, goat, or sheep that has four special parts to their stomachs. Horses eat a lot of food.
Mother Horse:
A mother horse is called a mare. Mother horses carry the baby horse inside their tummies in a special place where the baby grows for one year. Just like cows and goats she makes special milk for her baby to drink. Some people in other countries drink mare's milk but that is not very common.
Father Horse:
A father horse is called a stallion. They are bigger and stronger than the mares. Stallions can be mean just like bulls. But they are very beautiful to see because of the power and strength.
Baby Horses:
Baby horses are called foals. A boy baby horse is called a colt and a girl a filly. Some people think ponies are baby horses but they are just small horses. Foals drink milk from their mothers like other animals we tell you about on this site. They also eat grass and grain. It is very hard to raise a foal on a bottle and if you ever have to they grow best if you feed them goats' milk in their bottle.
Donkeys and Burrows:
Donkeys and burrows are in the same family as horses, kind of like a cousin. Burrows are small donkeys, just like a pony is a type of small horse. In many parts of the world people ride donkeys and burrows and use them for draft. They are sometimes used to protect other livestock from wild animals. We have some donkeys that have helped to protect our cattle from coyotes. In the picture to the left are our two donkeys Zack(the black one) and Caveman with my sister- in- law Lora. A mother donkey is called a jennette or jennie and the father is called a jack. Donkey babies are called foals just like horses. You have probably heard that donkeys are very stubborn. That is sort of true but only because a donkey wants to think about doing something before he does it. He has to feel in his mind that it is safe or the right way to do it. So when working with donkeys people need to be patient and kind.
Mules:
Mules are a cross between a mother horse (mare) and a father donkey (jack). Mules are intelligent and loyal. Many people think they are stubborn or mean but if you are kind to your mule he or she will work hard to please you. They learn quickly and don't forget their training lessons. They are stronger than donkeys and are more surefooted than horses. People like to use them as pack animals in mountainous areas. They are also used for riding and draft. Mules are very good jumpers and some people like to have contests to see who's mule can jump the highest. Boy mules are called johnnies and girls are called mollies. They are not able to have babies. But the babies born to the mother mare are called mule foals.