There are few more loved animals than horses, with young children always aspiring to own one as a pet.
However, the love of horses lasts for many stretches throughout their entire life, with some even showing a passion for horse racing.
Racing is one of the most commercially successful sports in the world, with high-quality action across the world typically seeing people make horse racing picks on events such as the Kentucky Derby and the Grand National. But what are some of the lesser-known facts about horses that many people don’t know?
Strange Sleeping Positions
One of the most unusual facts about horses is that they are able to sleep standing up. This is due to ‘stay-apparatus’, which enables equines to lock their legs in a position to relax without falling over.
Due to this, horses are able to sleep while they are taking long flights overseas, which is prominent in racing as European-trained runners travel to the United States to compete at the Breeders’ Cup.
Only Able To Breath Through Their Nose
Unlike humans, horses are only able to breathe using their noses. This is due to obligate nasal breathers, which means that equines aren’t able to breathe through their mouth.
Near 360-Degree Vision
Horses’ eyes are located on the sides of their head, meaning that they are able to have nearly 360-degree vision.
Their only two blind spots are behind them, which often leads to them kicking out if spooked, and directly in front of their head. However, as knowledgeable animals, horses use their strong sense of smell and whiskers to detect what is in front of them.
Born To Run
While infant children are slow to stand, let alone run, this isn’t the case with horses. New-borns, or foals, are able to move immediately after being born. As foals are valuable to predators, it isn’t unusual to see some foals able to run quicker than most animals after being born.
Different Breeds
Just like all other animals, there are different breeds of animals, and these can be distinguished based on their colours. Horses come in different shades and styles, with each following the pedigree of their mother and father.
Making Friends
While most humans may be scared of animals if they aren’t used to being around animals, they are typically harmless. Horses are incredibly social animals, and often feel safest when they are in a herd.
Equines are able to build strong relationships with each other, enabling them to feel comfortable sleeping and eating without fearing predators.
Generations of Horses
The history of horses in this world dates back a staggering 55 million years. The first recorded horses was as small as a Labrador, but they have become bigger and bigger throughout time. Domesticated horses were first found based on archaeological sites around 6000 years ago.
Two Types of Racing
While flat racing is most common in North America, there is also a second type in the form of jumps. Jumps racing is most popular across the United Kingdom and Ireland, with events such as the Grand National and Cheltenham Festival ranking among the biggest sporting events on the calendar.
Racehorses Share The Same Birthday
While humans get to celebrate their own personal birthdays and have a special day about them, that isn’t the case for racehorses. That is due to the fact that all racehorses celebrate their birthdays on New Year’s Day.
Classic Racing
The most popular racing events on the calendar come in the form of Classics. In the U.S., this shapes around the Triple Crown, while there are five Classics in the United Kingdom, which includes the Epsom Derby.
Horses and Royalty
The British Royal Family have strong links to horses, with Queen Elizabeth also breeding champions that would compete on the turf. Royal Ascot’s roots can be dated back to Queen Anne establishing the racecourse in 1711.
One of the most memorable recent moments in racing history came in 2013 when the Queen’s horse named Estimate won the Gold Cup.
Early British Racing Roots
Horse racing is the second-most spectated sport in the United Kingdom following soccer. Therefore, it is no surprise that some of the racecourses have been open for generations. Chester is the oldest racecourse in the world after being opened in 1539.
Lots of Bones
Horses have 205 bones in their body, but this number does differ depending on the breed. For example, Arabian horses have fewer ribs than other prominent types of equines.
Record-Breaking Tail
According to the Guinness Book of Records, the longest tail on a horse belongs to JJS Summer Breeze, measuring a staggering 381cms.
Millions of Equines
According to stats, there are a reported 60 million horses that can be found across the world. However, the first horse in Australia wasn’t recorded until 1788.
