Horse Facts

This page brings you a list of interesting horse facts. From size, to color, to scientific classification, see which facts you already know and which ones are completely new!

Classification of the Horse

They are a subspecies of the the family Equidae The correct Latin name for the horse is Equus ferus caballus. They are an ungulate mammal which means "hooved" animal. They evolved from a small multi-toed creature to the horse we know today over the last 50 million years Horses were first domesticated around 4500 BC Horses are prey animals who rely on speed to escape from predators They are also herd animals who rely on safety in numbers and require social interaction with each other There are over 300 different breeds of horses

Horse Facts: Age

• You can tell the age of a horse by examining his teeth

• Domesticated horses have an average life expectancy of 25 to 30 years

• The oldest recorded horse was "Old Billy" who lived to the age of 62

• Foal is the term that describes a male or female horse that is less than one year old

• Yearling is the term that describes a male or female horse that between one and two years old
  
  
• A filly is a female horse who is under four years old

• A mare is a female horse who is four years or older
  

• A colt is a male horse who is under four years old

• A stallion is a male horse who is four years or older
  

• A gelding is a male horse who has been castrated
  

Size

• Horses are measured in hands - one hand being equal 4 inches (10cm)

• The measurement is taken from the ground to the top of the withers

• "Pony" is the term generally used to describe an animal that measures 14.2h or under

• "Horse" is the term used to describe an animal that measures over 14.2h

• Miniature horses measure in at less than 30"
  

Colors

• Bay - body color ranges from light reddish-brown to dark brown and the legs, tail and mane are black

• Brown - body color ranges from light reddish-brown to dark brown

• Chestnut - body color ranges from light reddish-brown to dark brown with no black points. Mane and tail are the same shade or lighter.

• Grey - can range from white to dark grey but all have black skin

• Black - coat, mane and tail are all black

• Buckskin - cream coat with black legs, mane and tail

• Dun - cream coat with black legs, mane and tail plus black stripe along spine

• Cremello - very light cream coat and most often with blue eyes

• Leopard/Appaloosa - horse has spots, mottled skin around the eyes, lips and genitalia and also has a white sclera of the eye

• Palomino - golden, yellow or tan shade with flaxen or white mane and tail

• Pinto - multi-colored horse with large patches usually either brown and white or black and white
  

• Roan - has white hairs evenly intermixed with body color and solid-colored head
  

• White - very rare and has white coat with pink skin
  

Horse Facts: Reproduction

• Pregnancy lasts for approx 335-340 days

• Foals are able to stand and run within a very short time after birth
  

• Horses are considered mature at around four years old but their skeleton doesn't finishing developing until they are around six
  

Anatomy

• Horses have 205 bones in their skeleton

• Horses have a special locking mechanism in their legs which enable them to sleep standing up
  

Digestion

• Horses are herbivores which means they only eat plants

• They have a small stomach so require a steady flow of food throughout the day and night

• They require approx 2 percent of their body weight in food per day
  

• A 1,000 pound horse require approx 10-12 gallons of water per day
  

Senses

• Horses have the largest eyes of any land mammal and have excellent day and night vision

• Their range of vision is 350 degrees with two small blind spots, one directly in front and one directly behind them

• Their ears can rotate up to 180 degrees to provide 360 degree hearing with having to move their head
  

Horse Facts: Movement

• Horses have four basic gaits: walk, trot, canter and gallop

• The walk is a four beat gait with three feet on the ground at any one time

• The trot is a two beat gait with diagonally opposite feet on the ground at the same time

• The canter or lope is a three beat gait with a moment of suspension where all four feet are off the ground

• The gallop is a four beat gait and is the fastest gait for the horse