Amazing Horse Facts Part 2!

Hello all! We are continuing our Random & Amazing horse facts today in order to mix things up a bit and to expand your equestrian knowledge. (Because, why not??) Some of these you might know and some might surprise you!

Also don't forget that we love and welcome horses of all breeds, ages and disciplines at Southwind! Learn more about our stall boarding available at:  www.southwindfarminc.com!

Photo credit: Wikipedia Commons

21. An adult horse’s brain weights 22 oz, about half that of a human. (Source: The Equinest)

22. Horses still hold a place of honor in many cultures, often linked to heroic exploits in war, China being one of those countries. (Source: National Geographic)

23. Horses can not vomit. (Source: The Equinest)

24. There is only one species of domestic horse, but around 400 different breeds that specialize in everything from pulling wagons to racing. All horses are grazers. (Source: National Geographic)

25. A horse can see better at night than a human. However, it takes a horse's eyes longer to adjust from light to dark and from dark to light than a human's. (Source: Cowboy Way)

26. The first cloned horse was a Haflinger mare in Italy in 2003. (Source: The Equinest)

27. Horses like sweet flavors and will usually reject anything sour or bitter. (Source: The Equinest)

28. Wild horses generally gather in groups of 3 to 20 animals. A stallion (mature male) leads the group, which consists of mares (females) and young foals. When young males become colts, at around two years of age, the stallion drives them away. The colts then roam with other young males until they can gather their own band of females. (Source: National Geographic)

29. Most of the time, wherever a horse's ear is pointing is where the horse is looking with the eye on the same side. If the ears are pointing in different directions, the horse is looking at two different things at the same time. (Source: Training Horses Naturally)


30. Horses produce approximately 10 gallons of saliva a day. (Source: EquiNews)

31. On the underside of a horse's hoof is a triangular shaped area called the “frog," which acts as a shock absorber for a horse's leg, and also helps to pump blood back up the leg. (Source: PawNation)

32. Horses height is measured in units known as "hands." One hand is equal to four inches. The tallest horse on record was a Shire named Sampson. He was 21.2 hands (7 feet, 2 inches) tall. He was born in 1846 in Toddington Mills, England. (Source: Cowboy Way)

Photo credit: Wikipedia Commons

33. The average horse's heart weighs approximately 9 or 10 pounds. (Source: Steinbeck Equine)

34. The record for the longest jump over water is held by a horse named Something who jumped 27 feet, 6 and 3/4 inches on April 25, 1975 in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was ridden by Andre Ferreira. (Source: Equine Life Solutions)

35. The record for the highest jump made by a horse is held by a horse named Huaso who jumped 8 feet, 1 and 1/4 inches on February 5th, 1949 in Vina del Mar, Chile. He was ridden by Captain Alberto Larraguibel. (Source: YouTube)

36. Scientists believe that the first known ancestor of the horse lived about 50 million years ago. This prehistoric horse is called Eohippus and had four padded toes on the front legs and three padded toes on the back legs. (Source: Chronozoom)

37. Horses with typical anatomy are "obligate nasal breathers" which means they must breathe through their nostrils and cannot breathe through their mouths. (Source: The Horse)

38. Horses drink at least 25 gallons of water a day (more in hotter climates). (Source: Healthy Pets)

39. It takes 9-12 months to re-grow an entire horse hoof. (Source: The Equinest)

40. Horses with pink skin can get a sunburn. (Source: The Equine.com)

41. A zebroid is a cross between a zebra and any other member of the family Equidae (which, besides zebras, includes donkeys, ponies, and horses). … A "zonky" is a cross between a zebra and a donkey. … A "zony" is a cross between a zebra and a pony. … A "zorse" is a cross between a zebra and a horse. (Source: Cowboy Way)

42. You can tell if a horse is cold by feeling behind their ears. If that area is cold, so is the horse. (Source: The Chronicle of the Horse)

43. Horses have 16 muscles in each ear, allowing them to rotate their ears 180 degrees. (Source: University of Minnesota)

44. If a horse has a red ribbon on it’s tail, it kicks. (Source: Equine Tips)

45. Horses are social animals and will get lonely if kept alone, and they will mourn the passing of a companion. (Source:  The Equinest)

Tah dah! There you have it! totally amazing (some bizarre) horse facts to store for that next trivia game you play!