The diagrams below illustrate the horse development about its overall appearance and foot size in four different periods, from 40 million years ago to the modern day.
Overall, there have been dramatic changes in horses over a long period of evolution, the most important of which are the horse foot and its body size. While the first version saw seperate toes on its foot and a small appearance, the latest one is massive and contains a sole hoof in its four leg.
Regarding with the first ancestor of horses called Eohippus about 40 million years ago, it possessed a small size compared to latter generations, with a four seperated toes on every foot. Moving further, around 30 million years ago, Mesohippus horse had a longer tail, a larger appearance and most importantly, one toe had been disappeared, made its foot to a more balanced structure for standing.
About the Merychippus horse in 15 million years ago, its size increased further and a new mane had been evolved, while there was a larger 3-toes foot with extended angles for better balancing. Moving on the latest horse version nowadays, there is a remarkable evolution on its foot, which merges to a sole hoof in four legs with more spaces exposed to the ground, as well as the most impressive overall appearance.
