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Why does a horse have a mane? |
Large Mammals
One of the many neat features of a horse is its mane! The mane is the long hair that grows on the neck and down the back of a horse.
The “mane” job of the mane is to help keep bugs and insects away from the neck and head of the horse! Not only would it be bothersome for a horse to have flies buzzing around his or her head, but it could also give bugs a chance to lay eggs on the horse. – Yuck!
People who care for horses have different techniques for keeping their animals’ manes looking marvelous. Some people braid the manes, others comb them out, and others keep them cut short. Mane-taining a mane doesn’t just look nice, but it can help a horse to be healthy and happy!
There aren’t a lot of animals that have manes, but in addition to horses, there is one other animal famous for its mane: The lion!
Think about the appearance of a lion’s mane versus a horse’s mane. How are they similar, and how are they different? In what ways might they be used differently??
