Think You Know All There is About Horses?

Think Again!

Horses are prey animals, meaning they are hunted by predators.  Because of this, they have a strong fight-or-flight instinct.  Most times, horses will try to outrun predators, but they have been known to stay and fight, especially when running is not a viable option.

They are very social herd animals with a strong sense of hierarchy.  Wild horses travel in small bands called herds.  Contrary to popular belief, these herds are not led by a stallion, but rather by an alpha mare.  She is responsible for the safety of the herd, and determines where they will travel for food and water.

Horses can sleep lying down or standing up! Because of a locking mechanism in their legs, they can doze standing up and not fall over. Horses sleep better in herds because some will sleep while others stand guard, looking for predators. A horse kept alone in her pasture will not lay down to sleep because she must be on the look out for danger.

There is a special vocabulary to use when you talk about horses. Baby horses are called foals, females are called mares, and males are called geldings or stallions.

There’s even a different way to measure a horse’s height! The term “hand” is used—each hand is equal to four inches. The average horse is between 14.2 and 18 hands.

Horses’ weight is measured in pounds, with the average being 1,000 to 1,200 pounds! The largest horse in history was a Shire named Sampson. He was 21.2 ½ hands, and weighed 3,360 pounds! The smallest horse, named Thumbelina, was only 4.1 hands and weighed only 60 pounds!

Most horses have a life expectancy or 25 to 30 years, however, the oldest horse who ever lived was named “Old Billy.” He was 62 years old!

Horses are built to forage for grasses all day—they typically eat between 15 and 25 pounds of food, and drink 10 to 12 gallons of water each day!