What Are Good Odds in Horse Racing

10 Fun Facts About Horses

Humans have been riding horses and using them for work for millennia. These majestic creatures are associated with qualities of intelligence, independence and a free spirit. Get to know these animals better with these 10 fun facts about horses.

Horses Are Found All Over the World

Scientists believe that horses originated in North America, then spread to Asia and Europe. Due to domestication, horses can be found living on all continents except Antarctica. Horses in North America became extinct over 10,000 years ago, but were then reintroduced by Europeans. The only truly wild horses in existence today reside in Mongolia.

Horses Make Dozens of Sounds to Communicate

Most people correlate neighing and whinnying with horses. While horses do make these sounds, they also make dozens of other sounds and facial gestures to communicate their feelings. Horses snort to communicate danger, and stallions roar when making mating calls.

Horses Use Their Ears to "See"

While horses can't see through their ears, their ears do often give you an idea of which direction they're looking. A horse's ear will point in the direction that the eye on the same side is looking. In some instances, the ear points in a different direction, and this means that the horse is looking in two different directions at once.

Horses Can Sleep Standing Up

It's a common misconception that horses never lie down unless something is wrong. While horses do have the ability to sleep standing up, they lie down and even roll around at times. A herd of horses will never lie down all at once, though. One horse always remains standing to look out for potential danger.

Horses Live Up to 25 Years

Domesticated horses have a lifespan of about 25 years. Some live shorter and others longer. The oldest living horse on record was 62 years old when it died. Ponies — often mistaken for baby horses — live twice as long, for an average lifespan of 50 years.

Horses Are Incredibly Smart

Horses are highly intelligent animals. They can learn a variety of tasks and commands. They're even capable of solving cognitive challenges that involve categorization and other tasks. Horses are commonly used as service and therapy animals, helping with a wide range of mental health issues and disabilities.

Horses Can Stand Right After Birth

Unlike human babies, which don't take their first steps until around one year of age, horses stand up shortly after birth. Within three to five hours, baby horses can run around.

Horses Can See Almost 360 Degrees

Horses have eyes on the sides of their heads, which makes it easy for them to see nearly all the way around them. However, the position of their eyes makes it hard for them to see directly in front of them, and they also have a blind spot behind them. That's why it's dangerous to stand behind a horse. Since they can't see you, they're likely to become startled and kick you.

Horses Can Be Both Big and Small

There are more than 400 breeds of horses that come in a wide range of sizes. The largest horses weight more than a ton, whereas the smallest ones weigh as little as 120 pounds. Ponies are the smallest breeds of horses. Any adult horse that measures less than 56 inches tall is classified as a pony.

Horses Are not Naturally Territorial

Horses in the wild do not exhibit territorial behavior, whereas domesticated horses tend to be a bit more protective of their favorite stalls or pastures. In the wild, stallions fight with each other over female horses, but rarely engage in aggressive behavior to defend their territories.

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