The animal kingdom wouldn’t have been as fascinating if it didn’t have horses, right? However, this is what makes it beautiful and special, the fact that it’s full of various animals, with distinctive features, behaviors and personality traits. Horses are amazing odd-toed ungulate mammals that belong to the taxonomic family Equidae. They have evolved over the past 50 million years from an Eohippus into the single toed animal of today.

In the past eras, horses were man’s best friends and even took us to the fields of battle (8 million horses, donkeys and mules died in World War I). However, 2021 is just around the corner and there are still a lot of things to learn about these noble creatures. So, let’s find out together!

In addition, don’t forget that each year on 13th December we celebrate the National Day of the Horse. Read on to find out more interesting facts about horses.

1. Horses sleep standing up

Did you know that horses can actually sleep standing up? Of course, they sleep laying down too, but only for short periods of time. Their sleeping habits are similar to those of giraffes and elephants. They naturally developed this sleeping routine because sleeping while lying down can be dangerous, making them vulnerable to predators. They are able to sleep standing up through a process called ‘stay apparatus’ which allows them to lock the knee joints. This process allows them to sleep and relax without falling.

Here are also 7 Strange Animal Sleeping Habits That Will Take You Aback. 

2. Horses can’t burp

Many people didn’t know this before, but horses can’t burp, vomit or breath through their mouths (just like you do). The explanation is that their digestive system is built differently than other mammals that have this reflex.

3. A horse’s teeth will tell you how old they are

Of course, you can’t tell exactly how old a horse is, but you can estimate its age just by looking at their teeth. As they age, their teeth begin to deteriorate. So, if you have horses as pets, it is important to take care of their dental hygiene, otherwise, they risk developing severe complications.

4. Horses can live up to thirty years

One of the most common questions about horses is “what’s the lifespan of a horse?”, well, according to animal experts, horses can live longer than other domestic pets, such as dogs and cats. That being said, many horses can live for more than thirty years. Just like any other creature, if they receive a good diet, care and regular veterinary check ups, their lifespan will increase.

5. The American quarter horse is the most popular breed in the world

The American quarter horse is really good at sprinting short distances, making it the world’s most popular breed. Animal experts say that this horse breed is also known as a race horse as well as a working ranch horse, for horse shows and for its rodeos performance.

6. The Arabian horse has fewer vertebrae, rib and tail bone than other breeds

The Arabian horse is not only responsible for the foundation of many other light horse breeds, but it is also a special breed. These horses have fewer vertebrae, rib and tail bone than other breeds. They are smaller compared to other riding horses. According to animal experts, the Arabian horse is actually good at any type of horse sport.

7. Horses are herbivores

As you already know, horses are herbivores, which means that their diet consists of grass and other vegetables, such as carrots. If you look at their teeth you will see that they are naturally created for eating grass and veggies, unlike lions or tigers.

8. Horses can have best friends

As with cows, horses are made for living in small herds and have best friends. So, whether they are domestic or not, they should live with other companions (preferably another horse) to be healthy and happy. If you keep a horse alone, they are more likely to be stressed.

9. You use ‘hands’ to determine the size of a horse

If you want to determine the height of a horse, the standard measurement is called ‘a hand’. For example, a pony is 14.2 hands. In addition, only miniature horses can be measured in inches and centimeters.

10.Their ancestors were as big as a medium sized dog

As I said at the beginning of this article, horses have evolved from an Eohippus, which was actually a small multi-toed creature. An Eohippus was as big as a medium sized dog, such as a Golden Retriever.