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Horse Mane: Definition, Function, and Care
The mane is the band of coarse, long hair that grows from the dorsal crest of the horse’s neck, extending from the poll to the withers. It is a distinctive anatomical feature of equids, present in all domestic horse breeds though varying substantially in length, thickness, and texture between breeds and individuals. The biological functions…
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Stallion
A stallion is an intact adult male horse , one that has not been castrated , typically considered to have reached full sexual maturity at four years of age or older. Stallions retain the hormonal profile driven by endogenous testosterone, which produces a characteristically heavier muscular build, a thicker crest on the neck, and a…
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Dam: The Female Parent in Horse Breeding
A dam is the female parent of a horse. In breeding records and pedigrees, the dam is always listed as the mother, opposite the sire. A female adult horse becomes a dam when she produces a live foal; the term designates a fixed genealogical relationship rather than a breeding status. A mare may be a…
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Hoof: Definition, Structure, and Function in Horses
The hoof is the hard, keratinous capsule encasing the bones, soft tissues, and sensitive structures of the distal foot in horses, cattle, goats, and pigs. In horses it consists of three external regions: the wall, which bears weight and surrounds the foot; the sole, forming the concave underside; and the frog, the V-shaped rubbery pad…
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Withers: Height Measurement, Saddle Fit, and Conformation
The withers is the ridge of the third through fifth thoracic vertebrae at the base of the neck, between the shoulder blades. It is the highest fixed point on the horse and the universal standard for measuring height in hands.
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Mare: Definition of an Adult Female Horse
A mare is an adult female horse aged four years or older that has not been surgically sterilized. Below age four, a female horse is called a filly; at four and above she becomes a mare regardless of whether she has reproduced. A mare used specifically for breeding is called a dam relative to her…