We’re Not Horsing Around: 10 Surprising Equine Facts

“A dog looks up to a man. A cat looks down on a man. But a patient horse looks man in the eye and sees him as an equal.” --Author Unknown

It’s undeniable that horses are impressive, majestic creatures--that require a lot of work.  As owning and caring for f a horse requires a lot of space, a lot of cash, and a lot of hay, most of us will probably never get to experience these beautiful beasts firsthand. But that doesn’t mean we can’t continue to marvel. Here are some fascinating horsey facts to ponder:

• There are about 75 million horses in the world. China is home to the greatest number of horses with a population of 10 million four-hoofed wonders.
• The horse is an herbivore. He has a very small stomach relative to his size and needs to eat small, frequent meals. In the wild, a horse will graze for up to 16 hours a day.
• A horse’s height is measured in units known as “hands.” One hand is equal to four inches. A horse is usually considered to be 14.2 (14 hands, 2 inches) or taller when mature. Any that are under 14.2 when mature are usually considered ponies.
• Arabian horses have shorter backs than most breeds. This is because they have one less tail vertebrae, one less lumbar bone and one less rib than all other breeds.
• Like humans, horses have one leg or side that is a tad shorter than the other. You can tell which side is shorter by the side their mane falls to naturally. If not trained, the mane will always face the shorter-legged side.
• A horse drinks about 10 gallons of water per day. He can produce up to 10 gallons of saliva a day as well.
• Horses cannot breathe through their mouths, only their noses.
• Horses make eight basic sounds: snort, squeal, greeting nicker, courtship nicker, maternal nicker, neigh, roar and blow.
• Horses have a “prehensile” upper lip, which by definition means it’s used for seizing, grasping, or taking hold of objects.
• For horses, laying down is taxing. This is because they consume more energy when they lay down than when they stand up. They spend an average of only 45 minutes per day resting on the ground.

Also, did you know…that some very strange horse laws exist?

• In New York City, it is illegal to open or close an umbrella in the presence of a horse.
• It is illegal to fish from horseback in Washington D.C, Colorado and Utah.
• In Marshalltown, Iowa, it is against the law for a horse to eat a fire hydrant.
• In Guernee, Illinois, it is illegal for women weighing more than 200 pounds to ride horses in shorts.
• In Raton, New Mexico, it is illegal for a woman to ride horseback down a public street with a kimono on.
• In Hartsville, Illinois, you can be arrested for riding an ugly horse.