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How much time did it take to switch horses at each stop?
Before tractors, what jobs did horses help farmers do?
Pull plows and farm equipment
What animals did ranch horses help cowboys move?
Cattle
What did every working horse need every day?
Before cars, trucks, and tractors, what animal helped people travel and work all across America?
Horses
About how many miles would Pony Express horse usually travel before being switched out for a fresh horse.
About 10-15 miles.
What do we call a horse that is bred to pull heavy loads?
A draft horse
What breed is famous for ranch work because it is quick and agile?
Quarter Horse
Why are healthy hooves so important?
A horse with sore feet can not travel or work well.
Name three jobs horses helped people do.
Farming, delivering mail, ranching, pulling wagons, stagecoaches, logging, carrying soldiers, fire departments, companion animals,
Why did Pony Express riders change horses so often?
So the horses could rest and stay healthy while the mail kept moving quickly.
Why did farmers depend so much on their horses?
Horses helped grow food, haul crops, and complete work much faster than people could alone
Name one skill a ranch horse needs.
Turning quickly, stopping, opening gates, staying calm, following cattle, moving over rough terrain,
True of False: Horses were simply tools that people used.
False - they were partners and depended on good care.
What kind of transportation carried people from town to town before automobiles?
Stagecoaches
What is the name of the city where the Pony Express started?
St Joseph, MO
What is the difference between a riding horse and draft horse?
Draft horses were bred to pull heavy loads - they are large with wide shoulders and big feet.
Why would cowboys often need their horses to stop and turn very quickly?
To help move cattle, separate animals from the herd, avoid obstacles,
Imagine you are a pony express rider. Name at least 2 things you should check before asking your horse to travel a long distance.
Have had water to drink, have eaten, clean hooves, saddle fits well, horse isn't injured, horse is rested, tack is secure
Why were horses so important to towns and communities?
They helped people travel, deliver supplies, grow food, and connect communities.
The Pony Express only operated for about how long before the Telegraph replaced it?
About 18 months.
If you lived on a farm 150 years ago and your horse became lame, what are TWO jobs you might not be able to do?
Plow fields, haul hay, deliver crops, bring supplies home, pull a wagon, travel to town
What are other jobs that a ranch horse might do in a day besides rounding up cattle?
Check fences, carry supplies, open or close gates, find missing cows. check water tanks
Which is more important for a working horse: strength, speed, or good care? Explain your answer
Good care. A horse that isn't healthy, rested, fed, and cared for can't use its strength or speed.
In your opinion, what is one important job horses still have today?
Lesson horses, therapy horses, police horses, ranch horses, search and rescue horses