Domestic Animal–Horses

On April 15, 2009 Macedonia Post issued the stamp set features domestic animal – Horses. The issuance only consisted of two stamps.

The horse (Equus ferus caballus) is a hooved (ungulate) mammal, a subspecies of the family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today. Humans began to domesticate horses around 4000 BC, and their domestication is believed to have been widespread by 3000 BC.

Although most horses today are domesticated, there are still endangered populations of the Przewalski's Horse, the only remaining true wild horse, as well as more common populations of feral horses which live in the wild but are descended from domesticated ancestors.

Horses' anatomy enables them to make use of speed to escape predators and they have a well-developed sense of balance and a strong fight-or-flight instinct.

Depending on breed, management and environment, the domestic horse today has a life expectancy of 25 to 30 years.

Horse breeds are loosely divided into three categories based on general temperament: spirited "hot bloods" with speed and endurance; "cold bloods", such as draft horses and some ponies, suitable for slow, heavy work; and "warmbloods", developed from crosses between hot bloods and cold bloods, often focusing on creating breeds for specific riding purposes, particularly in Europe. There are over 300 breeds of horses in the world today, developed for many different uses.

Horses and humans interact in a wide variety of sport competitions and non-competitive recreational pursuits, as well as in working activities such as police work, agriculture, entertainment, and therapy. Horses were historically used in warfare, from which a wide variety of riding and driving techniques developed, using many different styles of equipment and methods of control.

Many products are derived from horses, including meat, milk, hide, hair, bone, and pharmaceuticals extracted from the urine of pregnant mares. Humans provide domesticated horses with food, water and shelter, as well as attention from specialists such as veterinarians and farriers.

BuzzNet Tags: Horse.,Macedonia,fauna,domestic animal

Karabakh Horse of Armenia

Armenia Post issued the fauna stamp series feature the Karabakh horse on February 14, 2005. This species is very specific horse of Armenia. Prior to the 19th century Karabakh had a great and substantial influence in improving horse breeds, which gave the opportunity to breed a horse with the specific features called Karabakh horse.

The Karabakh horse also known as Karabakh, is a mountain-steppe racing and riding horse. It is named after the geographic region where the horse was originally developed, Karabakh in the Southern Caucasus, an area that is de jure part of Azerbaijan but the highland part of which is currently under the control of Armenia. The breed is noted for its good temper and speed.

The Karabakh horse is not large, its build is peculiar to the saddle horses, it is sturdy, the muscles are well-developed, the head is small and has the expressive features, eyes are alert. The average measurements of stallions are: height at withers 147cm, oblique body length 149cm, chest girth 169cm, cannon bone girth 18.6 cm.

The loin is straight, short wide, the chest is deep. The limbs are properly set, the skin is tin, hair-side is soft and gleaming, the hair of forelock, mane and tail is tin. The colour is chestnut or bay with a characteristics golden tint.

Pet Animals on Malta’s Stamps

Pet Animals are animals kept for companionship and enjoyment or a household animal, as opposed to wild animals or to livestock, laboratory animals, working animals or sport animals, which are kept for economic or productive reasons. The most popular pets are noted for their loyal or playful characteristics, for their attractive appearance, or for their song. Keeping pets has been shown to help relieve stress to those who like having animals around. Mostly dogs have known as "therapy animals" . Walking a dog can provide both the owner and the dog with exercise, fresh air, and social interaction.People most commonly get pets for companionship, to protect a home or property, or because of the beauty of the animals.In many locations, animals that are considered pets by their owners but are legally classified as livestock, including horses, pigs, camelids, and fowl may be banned from being kept within the city limits or restricted to property of a certain larger size.

Regards to the human habits, Malta post has issued a miniature sheet featured the pet animals such as horse, dog, cat, fish , turtle, bird, rabbit, hamster or others mammals.