Body Types
• Using the magazines please cut out as
many different body types as you can find.
You do not need to cut out more than one
picture of a body type. You have 20
minutes.
Objective:
• Explain how and why breeds developed.
The Four Foundations Theory
There is some argument over whether the four foundation
breeds were actually separate horse species, or subspecies,
meaning that they could have interbred. Numerous examples
which fit into each of these categories can be produced,
although people could also argue that the four foundations
theory is a back-formation which relies on modern horses to
explain ancient horses, rather than the other way around.
In your Cornell notes
• What is the four foundations theory
• What is wrong with the 4 foundations
theory?
• What is your opinion of the 4 foundations
theory?
• Explain how humans may have impacted
the four foundations.
• Explain how the environment may have
impacted the four foundations.
• Come up with another way to explain the
variety of horse breeds.
DO NOT GLUE THEM!
• Take a blank sheet of paper and divide it
into four equal sections.
• On your own, divide your horses into four
body types.
• Look at your partner’s division..get an
explanation.
• Try their division with your horses…do you
like it better?
• Display the division you like best.
• Analyze your horses… Write in the squares:
– Body Type 1: Why have they developed that way?
What environment are they in? What is their use?
– Body Type 2: Why have they developed that way?
What environment are they in? What is their use?
– Body Type 3: Why have they developed that way?
What environment are they in? What is their use?
– Body Type 4: Why have they developed that way?
What environment are they in? What is their use?
On the reverse side of the paper
write each of the following types
one per square
• According to the theory, the four types of
horses which emerged in Europe were:
forest horses, draft horses, oriental
horses, and tarpan horses. Each of
these horses would have been distinct
from the other foundations.
• Forest horses are also sometimes called
warmbloods in discussions of the four
foundations theory, with people believing
that they adapted to the forested
environments of Central Europe.
• The draft subspecies developed to handle
the damp, cold environments of Northern
Europe, with a small, stocky body covered
in shaggy hair.
• While the oriental type developed in the
dry, arid deserts of the Middle East,
becoming tall, slim, and energetic.
• The tarpan evolved to handle the cold, dry
world of Northern Asia, being small,
sturdy, and somewhat shaggy
• Reorganize your horses based on the
descriptions.
• What body features did you choose to
identify the category to place that horse
in?
List common physical traits of each
of the following horse slides.
The "Warmblood" subspecies or
"Forest Horse": (Equus ferus
silvaticus, also called the Diluvial
Horse) thought to have evolved into
Equus ferus germanicus, and
which may have contributed to the
development of the warmblood
horses of northern Europe, as well
as older "heavy horses" such as
the Ardennais
The "Draft" subspecies: a small,
sturdy, heavyset animal with a
heavy hair coat, arising in northern
Europe, adapted to cold, damp
climates, somewhat resembling
today's draft horse and even the
Shetland pony.
The "Tarpan" subspecies: duncolored, sturdy animal, the size of a
large pony, adapted to the cold, dry
climates of northern Asia, the
predecessor to the Tarpan and
Przewalski's Horse as well as the
domesticated Mongolian horse.
The "Oriental" subspecies: a taller,
slim, refined and agile animal
arising in western Asia, adapted to
hot, dry climates, thought to be the
progenitor of the modern Arabian
horse and Akhal-Teke.
What about these guys?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Mustang
Saddlebred
Quarter Horse
Lipizzaner
American Minature
Tennessee Walker
Welsh Pony
Discuss
• What is the four foundations theory?
• What is wrong with the 4 foundations
theory?
• What is your opinion of the 4 foundations
theory?
• Explain how humans may have impacted
the four foundations.
• Explain how the environment may have
impacted the four foundations.
• Come up with another way to explain the
variety of horse breeds.