Meaning & use
working horses
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Meanings
nounplural
Horses that are trained and used to do practical jobs such as pulling carts, plowing fields, or carrying loads.
Grammar: Always plural; for one animal say 'a working horse.'
Patterns
- working horses pull something
- use working horses for something
- a team of working horses
In many rural areas, working horses still pull plows and wagons.
The farm keeps four working horses for heavy tasks.
Working horses need strong feed and regular rest.
nounplural
Horses kept for physical labor rather than for racing, showing, or leisure riding.
Grammar: Used to contrast with other types of horses, such as racehorses or show horses.
Patterns
- working horses versus show horses
- breeds of working horses
- care for working horses
The charity rescues retired working horses from construction sites.
Unlike racehorses, working horses are chosen for strength and patience.
Many working horses are now replaced by machines.
Word forms
| singular | working horse |
|---|
Common combinations
- a team of working horses
- A team of working horses pulled the heavy log out of the forest.
- breed working horses
- Farmers in the region breed working horses for their endurance.
- working horses in agriculture
- Working horses in agriculture are still common in some countries.
- retired working horses
- The sanctuary cares for retired working horses.
Synonyms and how they differ
- draft horses
- Draft horses are a type of working horse bred for heavy pulling; not all working horses are draft horses.
- cart horses
- Cart horses specifically pull carts; working horses may do other jobs too.
Word family
- working horse noun
- Singular form for one such animal.
Commonly confused: working horses or racehorses?
working horses vs racehorses
Racehorses are trained for speed in races, not for practical work.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'working horses' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Working horses do practical jobs like pulling a plow. Option 1 is wrong because working horses are not racehorses. Option 3 is wrong because they are horses, not birds. Option 4 is wrong because 'horses' is plural, so it needs 'are,' not 'is.'
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “working horses”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.