The ancestors of today’s horse breeds are wild horses which evolved over many millennia in habitats subject to extreme conditions (climate, weather, predators, terrain) and scarce food supplies. This has resulted in highly specialised forms of anatomy, physiology and behaviour. Domestication has had little effect on these traits; horses are still herd animals exhibiting highly developed social structures and pronounced flight behaviour. Their physiology is based on a lifestyle as a prey animal, where a large part of the day is spent exercising (foraging for food) and fast reactions can mean the difference between life and death.

To a great extent, the utilisation of horses by humans has overridden their physiological needs, in that they are managed, fed, trained and used for maximum efficiency rather than in accordance with their physiological requirements. This results in an increased susceptibility to disease, particularly of the locomotor system, the respiratory and digestive system, as well as to the development of behavioural problems such as stereotypies or aggression. 

Many requirements of domestic horses in terms of husbandry and management, as well as their interaction with human handlers are derived from the behaviour of their wild counterparts, so basic knowledge of these traits is essential for every horse-professional.