Eight Lesser Known Facts About Horses

Horses are one of the most majestic creatures on earth. They make fantastic pets and are known for being fun and loving animals. But there are many things we do not know about these fantastic animals.

Eight Interesting Horse Facts

Here we have gathered eight lesser-known, yet most amazing, facts about horses which all horse-lovers should be aware of:

1. There are over 300 breeds of horses in the world, but they can be categorised into three main groups: hot-bloods, cold-bloods, and warm-bloods.
   –Hot bloods are known for their superior speed and endurance and are generally the most expensive breeds, such as Bard and Arabians.
   –Cold-blooded horses, on the other hand, are typically hardier breeds and are often used for hard labour, such as Shire or Belgians.
   -The last category of horses is the warmbloods; they are crossbreeds between hot and cold, most riding horses such as Hanoverian and Oldenburg belong to this category.
2. Horses generally live up to 25 to 30 years. But the longest living horse named “Old Billy” lived for 62 years. He was born in 1760 and was bred by Edward Robinson of Woolston in Lancashire, UK. Old Billy’s preserved head now can be found in Manchester Museum.
3. Horses have remarkable eyesight. They also have one of the largest eyes amongst all land mammals and have both monocular and binocular vision giving them a greater peripheral vision to humans.
4. Horses have a very good sense of taste, and just like humans, horses love sweet flavours. Whereas sour and bitter food is their least favourite. They can also spot a poisonous plant – a huge help when it comes surviving in the wild.
5. Horses have a unique sleeping habit. They can sleep standing up or sitting down for about 3-4 hours per day with frequent sleeping patterns, where each session lasts for about 15 minutes. They also prefer to sleep in groups and one at a time, so that one of them can keep an eye out for any danger while the others are sleeping.
6. Horses are incredibly social animals. In the wild, they usually live in herds with a female alpha. If they are kept alone, they will show signs of loneliness. They also have a very sophisticated social order where an older and more experienced mare will be at the top of the hierarchy.
7. Horses love classical and country music. A study conducted in the UK back in 2013 found that horses feel a sense of calmness when listening to music. However, jazz and rock music causes stress and agitation.
8. The name “Philip” or “Philippa” means friends of horses. A perfect name if you are horse lovers.

So, what do you think, were you amazed by any of these facts? Or do you know any more interesting facts about horses which we should be aware of, head over to our Facebook page and let us know!

If you’re looking to find the perfect stable for your horse, we at Jon William Stables provide a variety of high-quality equestrian buildings. Download our brochure here or simply give us a call to enquire.