Equus caballus (or horse for short) is an animal belonging to the Equidae family that can be domesticated and domesticated for riding purposes.
Contrary to other mammals, horses are measured using hands rather than inches; indeed, the tallest horse ever measured seven hands taller than an ordinary one! Furthermore, numerous lesser-known facts about them will surely delight any fan of these majestic animals; our list of 10 fantastic horse facts should do just that!
10 Essential Horse Facts You Need to Know
1: Horses Possess an Almost Complete 360-Degree Field of View
Horses possess an anatomical trait unique among mammals: their eyes are placed on both sides of their heads for near 360-degree vision; however, three-dimensional vision is limited to around 70 degrees, which reduces depth perception and distance estimation accuracy.
Even with their wide field of view, horses possess two significant blind spots: one behind and one in front. As such, horses do not see the grass they’re grazing on or the food offered to them; instead, they rely on shifting their heads, using sensitive lips or their sense of smell to identify objects in the environment.
2: The Hearing and Vision of Horses Are Excellent
As prey animals, horses have developed highly sensitive hearing to ensure survival. Horses possess ten muscles for controlling their ears (we humans only possess three). This muscular structure allows horses to rotate their ears nearly 180 degrees for detection without turning their head. Sharp ears help aid navigation and awareness.
Furthermore, with 360 degrees of field vision and eyes placed on either side of its head like prey animals do – an adaptation that allows horses to detect approaching threats quickly and detect danger more effectively than most prey species can do – their eyes possess a 20:1 rods to cones ratio for excellent night vision capabilities.
3: Horses Can Sleep While Lying Down and Standing Up
On average, horses sleep approximately two and a half hours daily, alternating between standing and lying down positions.
Horses sleep while standing for most of their naps; their stay apparatus helps lock their legs together without falling over, conserving energy while remaining ready to fly quickly if required.
Horses lie down for deeper sleep during approximately 15% of their sleeping cycle, spending this period focused on Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep (during which time horses dream and move their pupils behind the eyelids). Muscles fully relax while their autonomic nervous systems slow down, and horses may even sleep comfortably on their stomachs or sides during this stage.
4: Horses Generate Around 10 Gallons of Saliva Daily
Horses possess three pairs of salivary glands: parotid, sublingual, and mandibular. Together, these produce approximately 10 gallons (40 litres) daily of saliva, which mostly comprises water but may also contain sodium chloride bicarbonate, sodium bicarbonate, and amylase enzyme to moisten and lubricate food before passing from mouth to stomach.
Horses commonly consume clover/red clover as their diet. Rhizoctonia Leguminicola Fungus grows on clover legume plants such as red clover, producing compounds including Slaframine and Swainsonine which stimulate their parasympathetic nervous systems, leading to hypersalivation (excess saliva production) when consumed by horses consuming legumes containing Slaframine; hypersalivation may occur more commonly among horses suffering ulcers in their mouth, throat or stomach.
5: Horses Are Unable To Vomit or Burp
Yes, one of the fantastic horse facts is that horses don’t burp or vomit! Their digestive systems only allow food to move one way – giving us another remarkable horse fact to add to the list!
Horses possess an extremely powerful lower esophageal sphincter (LES). Food travels from mouth to stomach via peristaltic waves that only move in one direction. The cardiac sphincters at each entrance to their stomachs close after food enters. When their stomachs fill up, they press against this valve tighter, resulting in it remaining closed even tighter, making horses incapable of relaxing it and returning its contents back up into their esophagus.
These features prevent horses from vomiting or burping, guaranteeing that food, liquid, and gas don’t come back up the esophagus and into their bodies.
6: Horses Breathe Only Through Their Noses
Horses breathe exclusively through their noses, unlike humans, who can use both breathing methods. Their upper respiratory system begins at their nose and extends all the way into their trachea and lungs, but due to a soft palate separating their nasal cavities from their oral cavities, nasal breathing must occur exclusively for horses.
Additionally, the epiglottis at the top of the soft palate restricts airflow from the mouth to the trachea and lungs via oral breathing; bone-hard teeth further restrict airflow during eating or drinking activities and necessitate nasal breathing for adequate air intake.
7: Horses Are Extremely Smart Animals
Horses are among the smartest animals on Earth. They are capable of performing intricate tasks such as riding and jumping quickly while remembering this information for extended periods. Furthermore, horses form deep connections with both people and other horses, which enhances their cooperative abilities and mutualism.
Wise animals also respond to human emotions, including body language and facial expressions, by acting out their feelings or states through actions such as lowering their heads when scared to indicate trust with their caregivers. Their intelligence and sensitivity make them ideal companions both at home and in work environments.
8: The Average Horse Lives for 25 to 30 Years
On average, horses live 25 to 30 years, with some domestic horses reaching as far as 60 years of age. Adequate nutrition, physical activity, and dental health care all play an integral part in extending this average. Smaller Breeds like Fjords and Icelandic horses generally live 30-35 years; Old Billy was recorded living for 62 years!
9: Horses Have Fast Reflexes
Horses rely heavily on quick reflexes for survival in fight-or-flight scenarios, with fast reactions in just 0.3 seconds from standstill to kick, delivering powerful punches. Their rapid reflexes play a significant role in protecting them against predators while guaranteeing safety in their natural environments.
10: Foals Can Walk Shortly After Birth
Foals (baby horses) show incredible development within hours after birth. Within the first hour or two after being born, foals demonstrate impressive agility when standing, walking, trotting or galloping – an astounding testament to their athleticism and vigour! Galloping may occur within 24 hours as foals develop further their natural talent for galloping, demonstrating athleticism and vitality that would otherwise remain dormant at birth.
Conclusion
Horses inspire wonder and amazement, reminding us of humanity’s intimate bond with the animal kingdom. From their impressive physical abilities – such as sleeping and standing up – to complex social behaviours and quick reflexes, horses display various fascinating traits that hold our imagination captive and enrich our knowledge about them. By delving further into fascinating facts about horses, we gain a better appreciation for their resilience and complexity.
FAQs
What are 5 interesting facts about horses?
- Horses possess an almost 360-degree field of view.
- Horse Hearing and Vision Are Excellent.
- They sleep both lying down or standing up.
- Daily saliva production averages 10 Gallons
- Horses are unable to vomit or burp.
Do horses have 360-degree vision?
Yes, horses possess a 360-degree visual field. Unfortunately, however, their three-dimensional field of vision is limited to 70 degrees, which limits their ability to perceive depth or estimate distance accurately.
Do horses breathe through their mouth or nose?
Horses breathe through their noses because the soft palate separates their nasal cavities from their oral cavities, requiring nasal breathing as part of normal functioning.
How smart is a horse?
Horses are among the smartest animals on Earth. They can learn complex tasks quickly, such as riding and jumping, and remember this knowledge for extended periods.
Do horses have excellent hearing?
Horses possess 10 muscles that control their ears. With such an array of control over these ears, horses can rotate them nearly 180 degrees to detect sounds from all directions without turning their head.