Fun Horse Facts

Did you know...horses have a frog located on the underside of each hoof? The frog is triangular in shape and acts as a shock absorber for the foot every time it strikes ground. This helps decrease the force placed on the bones and the joints of the legs.

Did you know...horses loose their deciduous teeth (baby teeth) just like humans? Horses loose their teeth in varying stages, but by age 5, most have a full set of permanent teeth. Adult males average 40-44 teeth while adult mares have around 36. Good for grinding all that hay!

Did you know... you measure a horse's height in units called 'hands'? One hand is equal to 4 inches. Anything 14.2 or smaller at maturity, it is considered a pony. An animal 14.2 hands or taller is usually considered a horse. A miniature horse can not exceed 34" in height at the withers per the American Miniature Horse Association.

Did you know... the tallest horse on record was a Shire named Samson? He was 21.2 hands tall (7 feet, 2 inches tall). He was born in 1846 in Toddington Mills, England.

Did you know... horses have 'monocular vision'? This means they see a different image in each eye at the same time. Horses have 'binocular vision' (both eyes working together to see the same image) like humans, only when they are looking down their nose.

Did you know... the horse has only one stomach? Sheep, deer, goat, bison, elk, caribou and moose all have four digestive chambers instead of one stomach.

Did you know... a mule is a cross between a male donkey and a female horse? Mules are usually sterile.

Did you know... all horses, regardless of when they were actually born, are considered to have a common birthday of January 1? Even if a foal is born on Dec 31, it will have it's first birthday the next day.