PETS

Nine curiosities about horses that really amazed us

Horses are magnificent and elegant animals, but how much do we really know about them?

In this photo gallery we have collected some interesting curiosities. We anticipate one: horses also sleep standing. This is a very common feature in herbivores that allows these animals to be ready to escape in case of nocturnal aggressions.

This is possible thanks to the strong ligaments of the legs that allow horses to support body weight while maintaining balance during rest. If you love horses and want to discover other curiosities about it, browse our photo gallery: many curiosities are waiting for you!

Freepik
Horses have big eyes
Horses have larger eyes than all other terrestrial mammals. The horse is in fact able to cover a 350° view.
Di Charles R. Knight - https://www.flickr.com/photos/84731659@N00/7597363926/in/set-7215763061367163
An ancient animal
The ancestor of the horse lived over 50 million years ago, but it was incredibly smaller. It was called "Eohippus angustidens", it was about 50 centimeters tall at the withers and looked more like a fawn than a horse. In the picture a reconstruction of "Eohippus".
Freepik
The breathing of the horse
The horse breathes only through its nose. Unlike humans and many species of animals, horses cannot breathe using their mouths.
Freepik
Horses can sleep standing up
Horses also sleep standing. This is a very common feature in herbivores that allows these animals to be ready to escape in case of nocturnal aggressions. This is possible thanks to the strong ligaments of the legs that allow horses to support body weight while maintaining balance during rest.
Freepik
Horses do not vomit
Horses cannot vomit. This happens because these animals have a special valve placed at the entrance of the stomach, called cardias, which prevents the ascent of food.
Freepik
Horses have very sensitive ears
The ears of horses are ultrasensitive and very efficient. They are composed of ten muscles that allow horses to detect a wide range of sounds.
Freepik
American horses are "young"
American horses have become extinct over 10,000 years. So, where do the "wild" prairie horses come from? Hard to believe, but they descend from farms. The European conquerors brought the horses back to the American continent and some of them escaped, repopulating the prairies.
Freepik
Horses live long
Horses have a very high life expectancy, around 30 years. They are therefore considered long-lived compared to other species.
Freepik
The number of teeth is variable
Well, yes. The number of teeth of horses varies according to the sex of the animal. On average, a horse has between 36 and 44 teeth.
Art galleries private collections
07/05/2024
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