Horses are one of the most intriguing creatures on planet earth. They have been around for centuries, providing us with a range of different uses during this time. As a result, there are loads of fascinating facts about horses that you probably don't know about. We've picked out a few of our favourites to show the true wonders of the horse:
Horses have a long life expectancy
Horses are one of the most intriguing creatures on planet earth. They've been around for centuries, providing us with a range of different uses during this time. As a result, there are loads of fascinating facts about horses that you probably don't know about. We've picked out a few of our favourites to show the true wonders of the horse:
A common misconception is that horses don't have long lifespans. On the contrary, they live a lot longer than many other animals. Over the years, thanks to modern technology, horses have been known to live for over 30 years!
Horses can sleep standing up
Have you ever wondered how a horse sleeps? Unlike cows, horses don't like lying down to sleep. Some experts believe this is because their long legs make it harder to get back up again. It's not uncommon to find a horse lying down, but the preferred sleeping method is standing up.
Horses do not like being alone
If you left a horse out in the wild, its natural course of action is to find other horses. Biologically, these animals are tuned to be in herds. They're used to being around other horses, so they hate being alone. This is why many horse owners are encouraged to keep horses in fields with other horses! It keeps your horse a lot happier as they feel more comfortable in a herd environment.
Horses can reach impressive galloping speeds
It's no secret that horses are fast animals. After all, we've been racing them for many years, and they used to be the mode of transport for everyone! However, did you know that the average horse can reach speeds of over 27 mph? Also, the fastest ever recorded horse hit 55 mph - that's seriously fast!
It takes a horse hours to learn how to run
While we're on the topic of running, horses are literally born to do it. Within hours of being born, a baby horse will have the ability to run. Scientists believe this stems from the need to run away from predators in the wild. Horses quickly adapted to be able to flee from danger if necessary.
Horses have bigger teeth than brains
One of the most fascinating horse facts is that their teeth take up more space than their brains. That's not to say they aren't intelligent creatures, it's just intriguing that more headspace is dominated by the teeth!
Speaking of which, the number of teeth in a horse's mouth can let you know if it's male or female. Male horses have 40, while females have 36.
Horses have almost 360-degree vision
We'll end with two facts about a horse's eyes. Firstly, did you know they have the largest eyes of any land mammal? Secondly, the position of their eyes on the sides of their heads means they have near 360-degree vision. So, don't try sneaking up on a horse as they will always see you coming!
We hope you've enjoyed these fun facts about horses. As well as being informative, they also serve as a great way of showing how interesting horses are.