Fun Facts & Fascinating Insights About Horses & Equines

Horses are stunning animals and for centuries have carried humans as mounts or drawn carriages. They have helped plough lands, served in battlefields, and performed countless magnificent tasks that shaped human history and culture.

Donkeys and mules have been just as vital, especially in less developed areas where they continue to serve as strong, reliable companions to people. Together, these equines continue to inspire and assist humankind in diverse ways.

Interesting Facts About Horses

• Horses belong to the genus Equus, which includes zebras, donkeys and mules.
• The world population of horses is approximately 75 million, with many breeds across the globe.
• Young female horses are called fillies, older females are mares.
• Young males are colts, adult males are stallions, and castrated males are geldings.
• Foals live with their mothers for about six months before weaning and are called foals for their first year.
• A horse typically has 205 bones; breeds like the Arabian have fewer ribs and lumbar bones than others.
• Horses have some of the largest eyes of any land mammal, granting nearly 350° vision to spot potential threats.
• They cannot vomit or burp thanks to a strong muscular band around their oesophagus, which prevents backward flow.
• Horses use a "flehmen response," curling back their upper lip to enhance their sense of smell.
• Horses graze up to 15 hours daily, travelling distances to select the best forage.
• The longest recorded horse tail was 3.81 metres, belonging to a mare named JJS Summer Breeze.
• Horses communicate emotions with ears, eyes, nostrils, and facial expressions and can remember past emotional interactions.
• They sleep standing up using a special locking mechanism in their legs but only achieve deep sleep when lying down.
• Their teeth are impressive, taking up more head space than their brains, which weigh approximately 625g.
• Riders mount and dismount from the left or "near" side, a tradition carried from historic horse use.

Donkeys and Mules: Strength and Intelligence

• There are about 40 million donkeys and mules worldwide, primarily in developing countries where they perform heavy work.
• Female donkeys are called jennies or jennets, males are jacks or jackasses.
• The Poitou donkey is the largest donkey breed globally.
• Donkeys and mules are known for their intelligence, strong character, yet gentle nature.
• Donkeys and mules rarely miss when they kick – a defence mechanism well-known to handlers.
• Hybrids between a donkey and zebra, known as zedonks, exist but are rare.

Anatomy and Physiology of Equines

• Hooves grow about 0.25 inches monthly, taking roughly one year to fully regrow from coronet band to ground.
• Horses have a pulse of 36–40 beats per minute at rest and breathe approximately 8–16 times per minute.
• Arabian horses uniquely have fewer ribs and lumbar bones, features linked to their endurance abilities.
• Average healthy horse heart weighs around 4 kg (9 pounds).
• A horse’s skeleton includes 205 bones, 80 of which are in the legs, highlighting their specialized limb structure.
• Human age estimation of horses is based on teeth; they develop permanent teeth by about 5 years old.

Behaviour and Social Traits

• Horses typically lie down for only 40 minutes daily, sleeping 2–3 hours total, longer in warm seasons.
• They are social, curious animals that enjoy companionship and regular exercise for mental and physical fitness.
• Horses, donkeys, and mules generally dislike the smell of pigs, an interesting behavioural quirk.
• Horses engage in playful behaviours such as chasing and mock fights, which demonstrate cognitive and social complexity.

Some Fun Proverbs and Sayings About Horses

• “The horse is God's gift to man” – an old Arab proverb.
• “If you want a kitten, start out by asking for a horse” – Anon.
• “Show me your horse and I will tell you who you are” – a traditional English saying.
• “A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse” – Richard III of England.
• “Never deal with a horse when you are in a fit of passion” – Xenophon, The Art of Horsemanship, 400 BC.
• “It is not enough for a man to know how to ride; he must know how to fall” – Mexican Proverb.
• “Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people” – W.C. Fields.
• “The wind of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears” – Arabian Proverb.
• “Horses are uncomfortable in the middle and dangerous at both ends” – Attributed to Christopher Stone and Ian Fleming.

Horses and their equine relatives remain magnificent creatures that many adore watching whether working or simply at rest. Their historical significance and fascinating biology continue to enrich the relationship between humans and horses into the modern world.