The Horse (Equus caballus) is a sizeable ungulate mammal,
one of the seven modern species of the genus Equus. It
has long played an important role in transport, whether
ridden or used for pulling a chariot, carriage, horse-drawn
boat, stagecoach, tram, or plough. They have also been
used for food. The most common date of domestication of
the horse and its first use as a means of transport is
circa 2000 BC. Until the mid 20th century, armies used
horses extensively in warfare: soldiers still call the
groups of machines that now take the place of the horse
on the battlefield "cavalry" units, sometimes
keeping traditional names (Lord Strathcona's Horse, etc.)
In comparison to our understanding of the development
of most animals, evolutionists have a good grasp on the
evolution of the horse from the very early (around 55
million years ago) Hyracotherium or eohippus to the wild
equids listed below.
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