40 Surprising Horse Facts
Did you know that horses can’t vomit? In this list of horse facts, we will go over in detail about the fascinating anatomy, history and more of these beautiful animals.
1. Haflinger was the first ever cloned horse in Italy in 2003.
2. The horse’s fastest recorded sprinting speed was 55 mph.
3. The Dubai World Cup is the richest horse race in the world.
4. The average horse weighs about 1200 lbs.
5. The largest horse museum in the world is the International Museum of the Horse in Kentucky.
6. The gestation period is 11 months.
7. Scientists believe that horses have evolved over the past 50 million years.
8. Ponies are small horses.
9. Ponies live longer than horses.
10. Ragweed is responsible for most horse deaths.
11. Mown grass cuttings can cause colic in horses.
12. About 5000 years ago, Mongolian tribes were the first to domesticate the horse.
13. Horses with pink skin can get a sunburn.
14. Horses teeth never stop growing.
15. Horses have the largest eyes of any land animal.
16. A horse takes a breath with every stride while cantering.
17. Horses have around 205 bones in their skeleton.
18. Horses have an exceptional locking system in their legs.
19. Horses have seven common blood types.
20. Horses have 16 muscles in each ear.
21. Horses gallop at around 27 mph.
22. Horses drink at least 25 gallons of water a day.
23. Horses do not have a gallbladder.
24. Horses can sleep both standing up and lying down.
25. Horses can run shortly after birth.
26. A horse’s knee joint is the equivalent to a human wrist, and their hock joint is equivalent to the human ankle.
27. The smallest horse in the world is 43 cm tall.
28. A horses stomach always makes gurgling noises.
29. Eating horseflesh is called hippophagy.
30. All horses and ponies must have a horse passport in the UK.
31. The drive-thru staff of McDonald’s will not serve people if they come on horseback.
32. A male horse is called a stallion.
33. The British army has more horses than tanks.
34. The sale of horse meat is banned in California for human consumption since 1998.
35. Like humans, horses have different facial expressions to express their moods.
36. A young female horse is called a filly.
37. A small indent in a horses skin is called a prophet’s mark.
38. Domestic horses have a lifespan of around 25 years.
39. Horses are herbivores which means they only eat plants.
