EAGLESTAR.NET LAND AND PROPERTY REVIEW
http://www.eaglestar.net
Issue #51
January 14, 2009

IN THIS ISSUE:
Properties of the Week: Horse and Farm Properties
Horsing Around: The Evolution of the Horse
Sponsor's Corner: Williams and Williams Auctions
Last Week's Top Searches
Auction News: FL, GA, NC, PA, OK, SC
Letters to the Editor
LandTerms.com Term of the Week: Floor area ratio


"A good horse cannot be of a bad colour".
- English proverb, early 17th century


PROPERTIES OF THE WEEK: Horse and Farm Properties
Multi-Use Land, Home, & Store
Russell Springs, Russell County, Kentucky
This unique property located about 1 mile from Russell Springs can be a small
farm, horse property, small business - you name it. 7.64 (+/-) acres, 2 large
metal buildings with living quarters, garage, laundry, livestock housing, &
more. Western store business is run from one building, business also for sale
separately. Perfect for horse lovers, hobby farmers, small in-home business
owners, and nature lovers. Listing ID: 22620. View photos and additional
information at http://www.eaglestar.net/cti.html

Private, Historic 352-Acre Ranch
La Honda, San Mateo County, California
Rare opportunity to own historic Alpine Ranch on San Mateo county coast side.
352 (+/-) acres of pasture, redwoods and springs with a network of trails and
roads that create endless outdoor activity in your own private open space.
Original 1860's farmhouse with fruit trees and ocean view guesthouse are just
part of what could be the ultimate family compound. Abundant wildlife, peace
and privacy make Alpine Ranch a true sanctuary. Listing ID: 22628. Photos and
more information can be found at http://www.eaglestar.net/ekt6-.html

Farm, Timber, Wildlife, and River Frontage
Curtis, Lewis County, Washington
Once in a lifetime property for sale! This 530-acre (+/-) property has
everything, can be taken in any direction. It has 3 homes, a bunkhouse, three
historic barns, two great shops, excellent hop production, water rights, South
Fork of the Chehalis River, timber, elk everywhere, and incredible views in
every direction. Please call if you are looking for a picture perfect farm or
ranch. Listing ID: 22358. Photos and additional details are available at
http://www.eaglestar.net/jns.html


HORSING AROUND: The Evolution of the Horse
Horses are grand and magnificent creatures that have, over eons, forged a very
close bond with man, rivaled in scale and intensity only by dogs. This bond has
resulted in a relationship that is mutually beneficial to both man and horse,
at least in most cases. Millions of people worldwide lavish love and attention
on their horses - and spend more than a little bit of money in the process.
Many, however, know next to nothing about how the horse evolved and what sorts
of changes the species has undergone during this process. As an example,
perhaps only the most ardent equestrian enthusiasts, zoologists, or
evolutionary biologists are aware that all modern horse varieties derive from
one of three main types - the Forest Horse, the Asiatic Wild Horse, or the
Tarpan. This short guide hits some of the major highlights along the horse's
evolutionary journey and is designed to enlighten and entertain horse lovers
and horse novices alike.

In The Beginning...
Fossil remains have made it possible to study the history of the horse over the
last sixty million years. Today's horse, Equus caballus, emerged and developed
only in the last million years. The family Equidae also includes asses and
zebras. Eohippus, also known as the Dawn Horse, the horse's first known
ancestor, stood only three hands high, about the size of a small dog, and had
an arched back. (A hand equals approximately four inches.) Instead of hooves,
it had four toes on its front feet and three toes on its back feet, much like a
dog. Its teeth were low-crowned and suitable for eating leaves and low, soft
vegetation. More than likely, its coloring camouflaged it from enemies.

By thirty-five million years ago Mesohippus had doubled in size to six hands,
had lost one weight-bearing toe on each forefoot, become faster, and had a
straighter back. The legs were longer; the back was straighter; the teeth
changed and the pre-molars became more like true molars. By twenty-five million
years ago Merychippus evolved, now ten hands high. The most significant change
came twenty-five to seven million years ago when forests became grasslands and
the horses's ancestors became animals of the plains. They needed teeth for
grazing, not browsing, a longer neck to enable them to graze, longer legs to
flee from predators, and feet suitable for harder ground. Now the horse's
ancestors had one central stronger toe, and the outer toes no longer touched
the ground.

Various sub-families developed, but eventually became extinct, and it was
Pliohippus which became the link in the chain back to Eohippus. Pliohippus
developed ten to five million years ago with long legs and single hooves, and
was about twelve hands high. Equus, the genus of modern horse and direct
successor to Pliohippus, emerged about one million years ago.

The Modern Horse: Equus caballus
Most equine fossil evidence exists in the United States, but when European
colonists reached the "New World," there were no live native equine species to
be found there. During the Ice Ages of the Pleistocene epoch, Equus migrated to
Europe over land bridges which existed at that time. The bridges across what
are now the Strait of Gibralter and Bering Strait disappeared when the ice
receded about ten thousand years ago, which meant that if an animal had become
extinct on one continent, that continent couldn't be repopulated with that
species. In simple terms, this means that America has ancient equine fossils,
but not those of Equus caballus. Early evidence of Equus caballus is confined
to Asia and Africa where six distinct species of wild Equidae still exist (or
at least have been known in modern times). These six species are:

1. Przewalski's Horse, which roamed most of Asia and still exists today.
Przewalski's Horses are the most likely ancestors of modern strain of Equus
caballus. In the Gobi Desert, west of Mongolia, in the 1880s, a group of
hunters killed an unusual looking horse. Upon examination it was called a new
species by the Russian explorer, Nikolai Przewalski, and named for him.

2. The Wild Ass, originally in north Africa, incorporates two sub-species, the
Nubian Ass, and the Somali Ass. It probably spread to Asia, but didn't reach
Europe until the Middle Ages.

3. The Asiatic Wild Ass is also known as a hemionid and is a mixture of horse
and ass. The best known is the onager, domesticated by the ancient Sumerians of
Mesopotamia long before the arrival of the domesticated horse. Carvings at the
Royal Cemetery of Ur of Chaldees 2500 BC show onagers drawing chariots.

4. Common or Plains zebras, with five or six stripes on their flanks, are found
in Kenya and the Cape of Africa. These are the zebras most people picture in
their minds when they think of a zebra.

5. Mountain Zebras, now confined to southwest Africa, were the first zebras to
be encountered by European settlers in Africa. It has about twelve stripes on
its flanks.

6. The Quaggo once roamed Cape of Africa in huge herds, but was completely
exterminated by early settlers in the last century. It had no striping on the
hindquarters.

Modern Equidae are all swift runners with one functional toe, or hoof. The
horny growth at the back of the fetlock is considered to be what's left of one
pad of its ancestor. All live in herds and all have cheek teeth designed to
grind plants. Modern horses trace to three distinct types, produced by
environment. Northern Europe provided a slow moving, heavy horse, the Forest
Horse, Equus silvaticus, from which the world's heavy breeds are derived. The
second was the primitive Asiatic Wild Horse. Survivors were found wild as late
as 1881, and called the Przewalksi's Horse. The third is the more refined
Tarpan from eastern Europe and the Southern Steppes of Russia. Because of its
light build and speed, it is believed that today's ponies and light horse
breeds descend from the Tarpan.

Modern Horse Sub-species
Five to six thousand years ago, four sub-species were produced, two pony types
and two horse types. Pony Type 1 lived in northwestern Europe and resembled the
modern Exmoor Pony or Icelandic Pony. They were small, chunky, tough, and
resistant to cold, wet, windy weather. Pony Type 2 lived in northern Eurasia as
was very resistant to sub-zero temperatures. It was bigger and more heavily
built. Its closest modern day equivalent is the Highland Pony or Norwegian
Fjord. Horse Type 3 was a little larger and more lightweight in build and
suited to hot climates, with resistance to drought and heat. Its nearest
equivalent is probably the Akhal-Teke. Horse Type 4 in western Asia was the
smaller desert horse and the forerunner of the Caspian Pony.

Modern horses are divided into three primary types: Cold Blood, Warm Blood, and
Hot Blood. Cold Blood horses are suited to cold climates and built to retain
body heat. Their bodies are rounder and coats of hair are thicker. Warm Bloods
like the Hanoverian and Selle Français are crosses between hot blooded and cold
blooded horses. Hot Bloods are ponies and horses from hot climates. They have
finer hair, longer legs and carry their tails away from their bodies to help
cool them.

We hope this article provided some new information to our readers, even those
who may already be considered horse experts. Future HORSING AROUND articles
will include modern horse breeds and horse types, conformation, colors,
markings, horse care, and equipment. We'll also do a feature on some of our
advertised horse properties and nearby equestrian facilities or recreation
opportunities. For more information and pictures of some of the horse ancestors
and contemporary varieties mentioned in this article, visit:

http://facstaff.gpc.edu/~pgore/students/s98/mooyoung/page2.html
http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Mesohippus
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fhc/merychippus.htm
http://www.karencarr.com/tmpl1.php?CID=102
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/przewalskis-horse.html
http://www.stlzoo.org/animals/abouttheanimals/mammals/hoofedmammals/somaliwildass.htm
http://www.answers.com/topic/asiatic-wild-ass
http://whozoo.org/Intro98/lorijenn/lorjen21.htm
http://www.albc-usa.org/cpl/exmoor.html
http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761588687/icelandic_pony.html
http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/horses/highland/
http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/horses/norwegianfjord/index.htm
http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/horses/akhalteke/
http://www.equiworld.net/breeds/caspianarab/society.htm
http://www.equinepost.com/resources/breeds/showBreed.asp?ID=123
http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/horses/sellefrancais/index.htm


SPONSOR'S CORNER
The Land and Property Review would like to thank this week's sponsor, Williams
and Williams Auctions. Williams and Williams offers property auctions online
and worldwide, from the affordable to the truly exceptional. See all of
Williams and Williams Auctions listings in EagleStar.net at
http://www.eaglestar.net/Properties/Multiple_Listings/Williams_and_Williams_Auctions/index.html
You may want to bookmark this page, since the auction listings are updated
frequently.


LAST WEEK'S TOP SEARCHES
Top searches by state or country, with the previous week's rank in parentheses:
1. California (3)
2. Colorado (13)
3. Florida (7)
4. Tennessee (11)
5. Washington (17)
6. Oregon (2)
7. Idaho (6)
8. Kentucky (1)
9. Ohio (5)
10. New York (21)

Other recent popular and interesting searches by visitors to EagleStar.net:
"5 acres vacant"
"3 bedroom w/ land"
"2 story log homes"
"2 story homes in IL"
"Utah hunting land"
"US Virgin Islands"
"Tulare County"
"timberland"
"horse property Brazil"
"duck hunting leases Texas"
"100+ acres Missouri"
"Wisconsin farmette wanted"


AUCTION NEWS
Browse thumbnail photos and short property descriptions at
http://www.eaglestar.net/Land_Auction_Calendar/index.html

Only new auctions are featured in this issue. Watch for a special mailing later
this week, HOT NEW PROPERTIES AND AUCTIONS #2, which will feature all current
auctions listed on EagleStar.net, plus some exciting new non-auction listings.

Exceptional Home with Extensive Upgrades
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Myrtle Beach, Horry County, South Carolina
4 bedroom, 3 bath single-family house for sale. Exceptional home in the Members
Club At Grand Dunes. Mediterranean-style architecture with superior upgrades
including extensive tile, premium lighting and fixtures, top-of-the-line
professional grade appliances, workout room and dry sauna off master bedroom,
and landscape package. Listing ID: 22610. Photos and more information at
http://www.eaglestar.net/ww6.html

High Traffic Commercial Raw Land
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Yulee, Nassau County, Florida
A perfect opportunity to invest in commercial real estate on one of Florida's
busiest travel corridors. Just minutes from I-95 and Jacksonville, FL. These
5.47 (+/-) acres are highly visible, located on A1A/SR 200 close to Fernandina
Beach and Amelia Island. Major retail centers and commercial businesses,
shopping, and restaurants surround this property.
Listing ID: 22607. View photos and details at http://www.eaglestar.net/bmr.html

Two-Building Light Manufacturing Facility
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
This commercial - light industrial - manufacturing property consists of two
buildings. One is a single-story structure built in the 1920's; the other is
2-story building constructed in the 1980's. The property is light manufacturing
formerly utilized as a printing company, known as Great Northern Press. Both
buildings will require complete renovation prior to occupancy. Listing ID:
22523. Map and contact information are available at
http://www.eaglestar.net/ww1.html

Luxury Home on 0.6 (+/-) Acres
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Waxhaw, Union County, North Carolina
Upscale home for sale with landscaped backyard, permanent barbecue grill and
outdoor fireplace, screened porch, wooded cul-de-sac lot, hardwood floors,
stainless steel appliances, media and bonus room, and much, much more. This is
a beautiful piece of residential real estate. Listing ID: 22608. Interior and
exterior photos and more at http://www.eaglestar.net/ww3.html

Two Gated Lake Club Resort Homes For Sale
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Gainesville, Hall County, Georgia
Two luxury properties for sale. Both auctions will take place at the same
location. The gated, lake-club resort of Marina Bay is nestled along a majestic
shoreline of secluded coves and panoramic, deep-water vistas on Lake Lanier, a
39,000-acre water amenity with 692 miles of preferred shoreline. Featuring
3.5-miles of waterfront luxury, a 280-slip marina and an award-winning
14,000-square-foot Lake Club. Only lot owners / club members are permitted to
purchase private marina slips. Listing ID's: 22612 and 22614. Photos and more
information can be found at http://www.eaglestar.net/ww7.html and
http://www.eaglestar.net/ww8.html

Hunting, Farm, Horse Land Plus 5BR Home
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Chelsea, Rogers County, Oklahoma
245 (+/-) acres hunting, fishing, recreation, retirement, farm, investment, 5
BR home, home sites, investment land in 7 parcels:
Parcel 1: 2.8 (+/-) acres with 5 BR brick home w/ 2-car garage.
Parcel 2: 40+ acres with barn, cattle pens, fenced.
Parcel 3: 86+ acres with spring-fed pond and wildlife.
Parcel 4: 24+ acres with woods, pasture, and pond.
Parcel 5: 17+ acres with woods, pasture, and pond.
Parcel 6: 20+ acres, hill w/views, creek, and pond.
Parcel 7: 51+ acres of open pasture with creek.
Listing ID: 22609. Find photos and additional information at
http://www.eaglestar.net/ww5.html


LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
We received quite a few favorable responses after we first reported a possible
real estate scam last week. Here are a selected few:

Dear Editor,
Thank you for this alert.
Amy

Dear Editor,
Thank you for your attention.
Best regards,
Magno

Dear Editor,
Thank you for the information. Being a family member of a land owner with 59
Acres in Ohio, I will definitely keep them informed.
Kimberly H.


LANDTERMS.COM TERM OF THE WEEK
http://landterms.com
Each issue we feature a real estate, forestry, natural sciences or other
land-related term from our partner site, LandTerms.com.

This week's term: Floor area ratio (FAR)
The ratio of floor area of a structure to land area expressed as a percent or
decimal, determined by dividing the total floor area by the total area of the
parcel or lot.

Find thousands of land-related terms, definitions, articles, abbreviations,
quotations, and more at Landterms.com! Click on the "Categories" button at the
top of each page to see the list of over 35 categories.


SUGGESTIONS
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Email: newsletter@eaglestar.net

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