50 million years ago The evolution of the Ohh the olden days! Well you could call it that, we’re somewhere between 58 and 40 million years ago, Hor e! phew it’s humid. 1. Look! Our first sign of the ancestor of the horse - Hyracotherium… Lets measure it! Hum, they’ve been here recently. Yes they have, I would say they are about the size of a Wow, how did you small dog and eat leaves not grass. know that? Because there’s one 2. 3. right behind you. 4. 35 - 20 million years ago Feeding style: Browser, forager Ah, that’s better. It’s not so humid here The environment sure has Oh changed. That breeze is so good. Oh, is that what we’re looking for? Size: 25 - 35 KG Period: Eocene Toe number: 3 on back feet, 4 on front feet 5. 6. Ah yes! It’s Mesohippus. It’s 9. grazing grass now and look at his It’s much more feet, it has split hooves Feeding style: Browser, forager horse-like now. It’s sort of large dog sized. Oh, can I throw a stick for it? Size: 100 KG Period: Oligocene Toe number: Split hooves, 3 toes on each foot 8. Sigh, I think we should see I wonder how fast 7. how it evolves, don’t you? it could go? 20 - 15 Million years ago Even its poo smells like a horses. W ng af O t P Wow, this must be It looks almost Merychippus! like a small horse. Trust you to find that! It’s because they’re digesting grass like horses do today. You can tell all sorts of 10. 11. things from poo, you know. Feeding style: Grazer, browser Size: 200 KG I wonder if it sounds like a horse, too? Period: Miocene But a cute high pitched horse. No time to find out. I want to show you the... Toe number: Hoof + two small side 'toes' on each foot 12. 13. To d a y That’s right, the modern 15. day horse! Let’s look at its feet. …Equus! Horses! Yep, proper hooves! 14. 16. Feeding style: Grazer. Hello horse. We’ve met your Size: 500 KG great, great, great, great… Period: Modern times a lot, grandparents! Toe number: One hoof on each foot Come on, let’s go for a ride! 17..