Horse Facts - what's your favourite?

Laika

Laika

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So after reading "The Nature of Horses" by Stephen Budiansky (highly recommend), I'm intrigued to see if anyone has some fancy horse facts?!

The best fact gets a metaphorical trophy!!
 
The nerve for the left hand side of the larynx goes from the brain, down the neck, round the heart, back up the neck, and controls the larynx.

Unless it is damaged, which is why roarers are almost invariably paralysed on the left hand side.
 
The lady who rides for me is full of "facts" about horses. She imparts them to me as if she is doing me a favour. E.g.

Horses don't lay down at night in the field
Horses only drink twice a day
Horses won't eat hay if there is grass

My horses usually do the opposite , I just nod.
 
My grandfather once told me that a foal's legs are at their adult length when they are born. No idea if its true or not!
 
My favourite 'fact' is that a foals legs are stuck together in the womb so it doesn't put a leg through the mares side - and chestnuts are the left over 'attachment' sites... 😩
 
"A Clydesdale's brain is the size of a walnut."

I heard this coming over the PA at a local agri/horse show some years ago.
 
That due to the placement of their eyes, a jump disappears from their vision as they approach it, so they effectively jump it from memory.

I remember watching a documentary years ago that showed the screen from a horses point of view as it headed towards a jump. I remember thinking that if I were a horse, I'd be one of those that refused to jump a thing!
 
I heard horses can see better in the dark than we can; it just takes them longer for their eyes to adjust. Also, depending on where their ears are pointing, is also what their eyes are directed towards. I don't know if this bit is true but if their ears are pointing in different directions, then their eyes are also looking at two different things.
 
Jo1987 said:
My favourite 'fact' is that a foals legs are stuck together in the womb so it doesn't put a leg through the mares side - and chestnuts are the left over 'attachment' sites... 😩
Click to expand...

I was always told that the chestnuts are the remains of what used to be a horses "second hoof". That horses, when they were wandering around with the dinosaurs, used to be about the size of a small deer and had several toes, the hoof developed and chestnuts and ergots are the leftovers of that evolution process?
 
I'm loving these facts guys - some new ones to add to the collection!!!

Keep 'em coming!
 
Lammy said:
I was always told that the chestnuts are the remains of what used to be a horses "second hoof". That horses, when they were wandering around with the dinosaurs, used to be about the size of a small deer and had several toes, the hoof developed and chestnuts and ergots are the leftovers of that evolution process?
Click to expand...

That's what i thought too Lammy.

Horses can lock their joints enabling them to sleep standing up.

Horses are interpressure animals - so if their sides (a vunerable area) are grabbed by predators they move towards the pressure & risk less damage of their intestines being ripped out. It's also why they lean into you when they stand on your foot & you are yelling blue murder!
 
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Laika said:
So after reading "The Nature of Horses" by Stephen Budiansky (highly recommend), I'm intrigued to see if anyone has some fancy horse facts?!

The best fact gets a metaphorical trophy!!
Click to expand...

I just ordered my copy, looking forward to reading it. Thanks for the tip! :)
 
Jennie951 said:
I heard horses can see better in the dark than we can; it just takes them longer for their eyes to adjust.
Click to expand...
If it goes dark suddenly you mean? That could well be true. Of course, sudden darkness isn't something horses would naturally experience, so there'd be no selective pressure to evolve faster dark adaptation capability.

Which reminds me of the warning the British Horse Society put out before the solar eclipse in August 1999: "... many horses can be expected to become frightened and disoriented by a relatively sudden onset of darkness in the middle of the day." Silly BHS! :D

Also, depending on where their ears are pointing, is also what their eyes are directed towards. I don't know if this bit is true but if their ears are pointing in different directions, then their eyes are also looking at two different things.
Click to expand...
Good point! I suspect it's true in general, but not necessarily exactly true from moment to moment.
 
Lammy said:
I was always told that the chestnuts are the remains of what used to be a horses "second hoof". That horses, when they were wandering around with the dinosaurs, used to be about the size of a small deer and had several toes, the hoof developed and chestnuts and ergots are the leftovers of that evolution process?
Click to expand...

My farrier told me this the other day.
 
Lammy said:
I was always told that the chestnuts are the remains of what used to be a horses "second hoof". That horses, when they were wandering around with the dinosaurs, used to be about the size of a small deer and had several toes, the hoof developed and chestnuts and ergots are the leftovers of that evolution process?
Click to expand...

Early on in their evolution, horses were five-toed and the vestigial toes are still evident as the chestnut, the ergot, the two splint bones and the pedal bone/hoof.
 
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