Horse Facts - Interesting Facts About Horses

Just like zebras, horses were wild animals in the beginning. Around 1900 B.C. horses first appeared in Greece, which most probably came with the arrival of the Indo-European. They were hunted for their skin as well as meat. Around 3000 B.C. things changed and people began taming horses and using them to carry things. The invasion of the Hyksos or Amorites brought with them horses and chariots to Egypt.

Interesting Facts About Horses:

• Equus caballus, is a term given to modern-day horses.
• A horse is a member of the "equus" family. This word originates from the Greek dialect, and means quickness.
• More than 350 breeds of ponies and horses can be found.
• The height of a horse is measured using the unit, "hand", where one hand equals four inches.
• If you want to know how old a horse is, all you need to do is to count its teeth.
• Equinophobia, is the fear of the horses.
• An average horse's head weighs 11.84 pounds.
• A horse's heart weighs an amazing 10 pounds.
• A horse is able to drink 10 gallons of water per day.
• If you hold your hand out to a horse and it approaches you, while then blowing warm air onto the palm of your hand, it means that he/she wants to be friends with you. If it rests its head on your shoulder, it means that he/she trusts you.
• Horses use their facial expressions to communicate. Their moods can be determined with the help of their nostrils, eyes and ears.
• Horses spend more energy lying down.
• The hoof of a horse is like a fingernail; it keeps on growing and needs to be clipped.
• The 1st of January is when all racehorses in the US celebrate their birthday.
• A horse is able to walk, trot, canter and gallop, in horse behavior lingo.
• Horses usually live for around 20 to 25 years. Some of them can live up to 5 years more.
• In most cases, the foal (young horse) is born at night, away from danger and prying eyes.
• After being born, it only takes a foal about 1-2 hours to stand up and walk.
• A cross between a donkey and zebra is known as a zeedonk.
• Foals are fully grown by 3-4 years of age.
• Horses eat short, juicy grass, and hay. Foods like barley, corn, oats and bran are good for working horses.
• A horse's mood mimics its owner's emotions. If you are in a bad mood, the horse senses this and acts out the same behavior. If you are in a good mood, the horse is well-behaved and isn't difficult to work with.
• Horses are either a mixture of colors or the same color all over. Horses are usually, black, brown, cream or gray in color.
• A horse has two blind spots; one is located directly in front of them while the other is located directly behind.
• A breed of horses called Akhal-Teke from Russia can go for days without water or food.
• One of the few breeds of horses that live in North America are called Mustangs.
• A cross between a horse and a zebra, is known as a zebroid, or zorse.
• "Old Billy," was the oldest recorded horse that lived to be 62.
• Falebella of Argentina, is the smallest breed of horse.
• "Little Pumpkin," is the smallest pony in history - it stood high at 14 inches and weighed 20 lbs.
• "Samson," was the tallest horse recorded in history.
• Another horse known for its height as one of the tallest, was Dr Le Gear, from the Pecheron breed.
• A male horse is known as a stallion, whereas a donkey stallion is known as a jack.
• A female horse is known as a mare.
• A donkey mare is known as a jenny.
• A baby horse is known as a foal.
• A young female horse is known as a filly.
• The father of a horse is known as a sire.
• The mother of a horse is known as a dam.
• A fully grown small horse is known as a pony.
• A farrier or blacksmith is the person who cares for a horse's feet.

Head Markings:

• A narrow white mark, which runs down the face from the forehead, is called a Stripe.
• A white mark, which covers one or both the lips and proceeds up to the nostrils, is called a White muzzle.
• A broad splash of white that covers most parts of the forehead between the eyes and carries, right down the nose to the muzzle is called a Blaze.
• Any kind of mark, which appears on the forehead of a horse, is called a star, irrespective of whether it resembles one.