The Modern Horse

jc60984 — 2025-03-12 17:52:48 UTC

Horses nowadays are built for mostly running on flat land because of what humans use them for; racing. But horses used to be different and slower but could run more easily on slanted land because they hand toes instead of hoves.

Horse Ancestors

jc60984 — 2025-03-12 17:57:48 UTC

The Eoppilus lived between 56 to 33.9 million years ago, it was a lot smaller and dog-like with paws and a small tail. Mesohippus lived around 37-30 million years ago and looked similar to a pony it sometimes had stripes and had a skinny head and legs. Merychippus lived 17 million years ago and began to look like a modern horse but shorter with small legs compared to the bigger body. Pliohippus lived 5 million years ago and looks almost exactly like a horse nowadays tail was fully covered in hair medium-sized legs and a body the same size as a modern horse. All of the ancestors of the horse ate mostly grass or other vegetation.

Mesohippus depiction

jc60984 — 2025-03-13 17:32:48 UTC

Horse evolution by Jamison Cobb

The Modern Horse

Horse Ancestors

Mesohippus depiction