Where will evolution take the horse next?

Wherever we take it. Evolution is driven by natural selection, and we've taken that out of the equation for the most part- In the wild, a massive 18 hand monster wouldn't make it to breed. He'd have soundness issues without farrier care, and even if he wasn't eaten by a predator (Most of which, by the way, we've killed off) he'd eventually starve because his bulk wouldn't be supported by anything but the lushest growth, year around. But with humans in the picture, such horses thrive. We also control breeding, meaning that it once again isn't the strongest who passes on his genes- We geld good horses and bad horses, and we sometimes keep terrible horses intact because we're idiots, and breed them to everything under the sun.

Hm... I don't know.

Unless we change our ways- eventually the world will be so polluted that there will be only indoor living. All animal life will probably die except for small, indoor companions. Of course, everything will also blow up and turn to ash later on. Then the sun will die and everything will start over again and we'll probably have this same conversation a trillion years from now and find fossils in space of our past lives.

So horses?

I think there will be some ridiculous genetic modifications through laboratories and science. Soon there will be robotic SIM pets that don't shed or poop and act like real animals. We'll be able to grow meat from tree stems and horses will become a rarity as people get fatter and fatter from eating fast food all the time so they won't be able to ride anyway.

LOL.... this is not a terribly serious answer.

I like Marianne's answer.

I also think that the horse will just keep getting better and better. (This is excluding all those backyard breeders of course!)

I mean for example, the top breeders take one good horse and breed it to another good horse. The offspring has both qualities of the parents therefore it turns out as good as, or rather more, better than the parents (this is also providing that there are no health issues within the lines).

If you look at horses thousands of years ago, they are pretty ugly compared to the modern day horse. This is because we humans caught them and used them for a purpose. We humans naturally chose the nicest ones and bred them further to make the 'better than the next' ones.

In terms of micro-evolution, the answer depends on whether you're referring to feral horses or domesticated ones.

The feral horses' micro-evolution is determined by natural selection, so the horses would become hardier, sounder, smarter, faster, stronger, but not necessarily "prettier" by our odd standards.

As for domesticated horses, that all depends on whether or not breeders put aside greed (and current "fashions" ) and decide to only breed sound, sane horses who are good performers in their disciplines. And also, on what research reveals about genetically determined diseases and conformation flaws and whether or not breeders decide to take that information into account when breeding. Remember, diseases such as HYPP and conformation faults such as small feet could well have been diminished at least, if the QH breeders had used their brains and conscience to breed instead of being motivated by greed and stupid aesthetic choices. (Who on earth decided that small feet was an attractive trait for a halter horse???) Not picking on QH's - plenty of conformation flaws are being passed on in the TB lines, obviously, too.

If the AQHA judges have anyth\hing to do with they will breed the hooves and legs right off them and we will just be able to use them for pets.

Wings... I'm totally kidding! I just wish horses had wings :)

They will be able to pick up speed and take off.

If not then a horn will grow out of their nose.

I've always wanted a unicorn, so yeah.....a unicorn would be very nice to have.

Uh nowhere cause evolution doesn't exist!