Interesting Horse Facts courtesy of Animal Friends Equine Insurance

Horses are beautiful large animals and have been around forever. They have been traced back to at least 3000 BC. They are a member of the Equus family. The name is derived from ancient Greece and means quickness. There are more than 350 breeds of horses and ponies that are recognised. As an ethical horse insurance company we understand that the history of breeds is important for their future survival.

The horse has two blind spots; they are located directly behind them and directly in front of them. Horses use facial expressions to communicate what they are feeling. You can tell their moods by observing their eyes, ears and nostrils. A horse can drink up to 10 gallons of water a day. There is a Russian breed of horse called the Akhal Teke that can go days without food or water.

A horse is measured by hands. The hand equals four inches. To tell how old your horse is all you have to do is count their teeth. The average horse s head weighs about 12 pounds. A horse s heart weighs about 10 pounds. The horse s hoof is like a human fingernail. It is constantly growing and they have to be clipped.

A male horse is a stallion and a female is a mare. A baby horse is called a foal and a young female horse is called a filly. A young male is called a colt. The mother of a horse is a dam and the father is a sire. The smallest horse in history stood 14 inches high and weighed 20 pounds and was named Little Pumpkin. The oldest recorded horse lived to be 62 years old and was called Old Billy. The smallest horse breed is the Falebella of Argentina.
Any kind of mark on a horse s forehead, no matter the actual shape, is called a star. A broad splash of white that covers a horse s forehead and goes down over the nose and to the muzzle is called a blaze.

These are just a few of the interesting facts about the horse. Horses make great companions and will be your riding partner for a lifetime.

Do you have any advice for our readers on training horses, keeping their horse or donkey fit and healthy or even how to become a better horse rider? Animal Friends Equine Insurance would love to hear what you have to say. Please post your comments below if you would like to share your opinions with other members of AFI's Horse Community. Thank you and enjoy the blogs!