Free as the Wind: Sable Island Horses

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Surviving on Sable: Sable Island Horses

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Learning Objectives

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Food and Water

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Most of the time, there is plenty of food and fresh water on Sable. But in some seasons the horses must struggle to find nourishing plants or a source of drinking water.

The horses grow fat grazing on lush summer plants. Summer fat is the key to surviving hard winters, because the dried winter leaves of Marram are not very nourishing.

Horses can sense where to dig for water in a dry season.

Most of the time, there is plenty of food and fresh water on Sable. But in some seasons the horses must struggle to find nourishing plants or a source of drinking water.

The horses grow fat grazing on lush summer plants. Summer fat is the key to surviving hard winters, because the dried winter leaves of Marram are not very nourishing.

Horses can sense where to dig for water in a dry season.

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Grazing

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Most of the time, there is plenty of food and fresh water on Sable.

Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History
Sable Island Preservation Trust

© Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History 2001 All Rights Reserved.

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Horse in Winter

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Summer fat is the key to surviving hard winters.

Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History
Sable Island Preservation Trust

© Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History 2001 All Rights Reserved.

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Horses Digging

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Horses can sense where to dig for water in a dry season.

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Teeth and Sand

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Imagine chewing sand every day. The horses take in a lot of sand as they graze. Hard quartz sand grains wear down their teeth. Horse teeth keep growing for about 6 years, so tooth wear is not a problem at first. But older horses may starve when their worn teeth cannot grind the tough Marram.

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Teeth and Sand

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On the left side, it belongs to a young horse. On the right side, it belongs to an old horse.

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Learning Objectives

The learner will:

Demonstrate an understanding of the ways horses on Sable Island find nutrition and water to ensure their survival

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