Interesting and Bizarre Facts About Horses

These beautiful creatures are full of surprises. Their unique personalities, how they interact with one another, and the things we discover continue to surprise us. So much so, there are hundreds of interesting and bizarre facts about horses out there, and many you might not know! 

We are getting one step closer to some sense of normalcy every day. As we mentioned in our last blog, we've been taking extra care of our horses, barns, equipment, and stables to make your next ride with us very safe. Make sure you're paying close attention to our website or give us a call for all of our latest information. We are currently open for our historic trail rides, which are not to be missed! Enjoy this beautiful weather and the wonderful Lowcountry scenery, all while social distancing on the back of a stunning horse. We are adhering to the Governor's guidelines to help keep our staff and clients safe. Please reach out to us regarding any specific questions or services, and we hope to see you real soon. It's very easy to book your next ride with us on our website or to send us a message. We are here for you and continue to offer the best trail rides in Charleston! 

In our last few blogs we've scaled the spectrum of topics. From ways to ride your horses, staying sanitary, to myths and legends, we've offered a slew of new things to learn about. Education is something we deeply appreciate and cherish. We love watching new riders of all ages hop on a horse for the very first time, and continue coming back as their love and appreciation grows for these amazing creatures. As the virtual school year has a few more weeks left, we hope that parents will bring their children to our trails for a field trip or stumble upon our blog. In that vein and the spirit of continued education, we wanted to share some interesting and bizarre facts that you may or may not know about horses! We would love to hear from you after you read this blog. Comment what facts you found interesting and what you learned. Don't hesitate to share and post this for all of your friends and family to enjoy, too! 

INTERESTING FACTS

• Horses are almost able to see 360 degrees around them, due to the placement of their eyes on the side of their heads. 
• It is estimated that there are over 60 million horses in the world. 
• Horses can sleep standing up or laying down on either of their sides. 
• Horses can run very shortly after they are born. 
• They have the largest eyes of any mammal found on land.
• The oldest known horse was Old Billy, who lived to be 62 years old! 
• Horses can't vomit or burp. 
• They only chew on one side of their mouths. 
• Male horses have more teeth than female horses. 
• Horses can grow a mustache! 

BIZARRE FACTS

• Scientists believe that over the last 50 million years or so, horses evolved from much smaller creatures. Who wouldn't love to have a pocket-sized horse? 
• Horse's teeth take up more space in their heads than their brains. 
• For many years, people believed that horses were colorblind. It turns out they are not, and they see yellows and greens more predominantly than other colors. 
• Just like humans, horses use their facial expressions to express their moods. They also use their eyes, nostrils, and ears to express their emotions. 
• A horse's brain weighs, at adulthood, half the size of an adult human's brain. 
• Horses have one less bone in their bodies than humans do, they have 205. 
• Horses hooves are made up of the same material human hair and fingernails are made out of, keratin. 
• The most expensive horse ever sold was for $70 million. Fusaichi Pegasus was purchased for this exorbitant amount, and he won the Kentucky Derby in 2000. He won only 2 million for his success. 
• The closest relatives to the horse in the animal kingdom are the rhino, the zebra, and the donkey. 
• Horses have successfully been cloned. 
• It can take up to a full 9 to 12 months for a horse to grow a brand new hoof. 

These are just some of the interesting and bizarre facts about horses that are out there. These gentle creatures are very complex, and in the 5000 years they have been domesticated, we continue to learn more and more about them. What facts did you learn today? Did anything surprise you? We would love to hear from you! Until then, please continue to stay safe! We are Charleston's premier horseback riding trail, dedicated to keeping you safe while exploring the beauty of the Lowcountry.

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