Horses have been humans’ most loyal companions for thousands of years. These incredible creatures helped us throughout history, and we wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for horses.
Horses have been part of society for thousands of years, and for many different reasons. Horses are athletes, companions, working animals, and equestrian sport, and throughout history, horses have been around these majestic creatures most of the time.
They are incredible creatures that humans love, and we can learn plenty of things from them. If you are someone that loves horses, we’ve made a selection of the most interesting facts about horses, that might sound strange but are actually true.
Even though we’ve spent thousands of years around these animals, we are still learning about them and from them.
So, if you are a horse lover, or someone that appreciates these animals, here are some interesting facts that might blow your mind.
Here are some fun facts about horses:
Table of Contents
- 1. Horses Have the Ability to Sleep Standing Up
- 2. Horse’s Life Span Can Go Above 30 Years Old
- 3. Horses Have Nearly 360 Degree Field of View
- 4. Horses Cannot Burp
- 5. Horses Cannot Breather Through Their Mouth
- 6. Horses are Herd Animals
- 7. White Horses Are not Born That Way
- 8. Horses are Very Intelligent Animals
1. Horses Have the Ability to Sleep Standing Up
Can you imagine if humans had the ability to sleep without losing their balance? It would be awesome to take a nap standing up. Horses, on the other hand, have this ability and can sleep standing up or laying down.
However, even though horses can take a nap standing up, in order to achieve a fully restorative sleep cycle, they must lie down at least 30 minutes per day. Otherwise, they will have sleep deprivation. The action of closing their eyes and sleeping while standing up is an act that helps them conserve energy so they can run at any moment if needed.
2. Horse’s Life Span Can Go Above 30 Years Old
One of the most common questions about horses is “How long do they live?”. The answer might surprise you.
Even though we are used to seeing horses that are three years old at professional races like the Kentucky Derby, and they can participate in such races once in a lifetime, the life span of a horse can go to 30 years old if they are properly cared for.
As the knowledge about horses, horse care, and veterinary medicine advances, so does their longevity.
3. Horses Have Nearly 360 Degree Field of View
Due to the unique position of their eyes, horses have a large field of view that almost reaches 360 degrees. They only have two blind spots, which are directly behind them, and in front of their nose.
With that said, they cannot notice the grass or carrot you are sticking out to their mouth, and they need to use other senses like the smell or the sensitivity of their lips to pick the food item.
4. Horses Cannot Burp
Unlike humans or other animals, horses cannot burp or even vomit. One way to explain this is by comparing the digestive system of both humans and horses. In contrast to cattle or other ruminants, which regurgitate food to chew it again, the digestive system of the horse is a one-way street.
Even though they cannot burp or vomit, they have a quite efficient way of processing tough fibrous foods, but having a one-directional digestive system can result in a few problems.
5. Horses Cannot Breather Through Their Mouth
Horses are nose breathers, which means that they intake air through their nose and not through their mouths as humans do. This makes breathing harder when they are running or when their heart rate is rising.
6. Horses are Herd Animals
Falling in the category of prey animals, horses always feel better when they are in small groups. In fact, in the wild they live in small herds, making them feel safer with other companions. If a horse gets separated from the herd, these times can be quite stressful for the horse.
7. White Horses Are not Born That Way
The iconic white horse that we see in movies, cartoons, and fairytales, isn’t actually born that way. In fact, most white horses are born a much darker color and they turn white as they grow older. In most cases, horses that turn white are born grey, chestnut, or almost black, which is why even when they turn white, they are called gray horses.
8. Horses are Very Intelligent Animals
Horses are one of the most intelligent animals on the planet, which is why humans trained them to do certain things over the years. The horse’s intelligence goes to a point where it can communicate its needs to their guardians.
Horses also are emotional animals that can feel lonely, sad, happy, or excited.