Fun Facts About Horses You Can Share with Your Friends

Love horses? Check out these facts sure to delight.

1. The horse trailer (known as the “horse box” in Britain) was invented in 1836 by a man named Lord George Bentinck. Bentinck wanted a better way to transport his racehorses from one place to another.
2. Believe it or not, horses can sleep comfortably while standing up. Because they can lock their knees in place, there is little chance they will fall over (though they will occasionally sleep lying down). Many experts believe horses sleep the way they do so they can get away quickly when predators approach.
3. There are about 205 bones in a horse’s body. The human body has 206 bones.
4. Old Billy became the longest-living horse on record when he died at the ripe old age of 62 in 1822. The morbidly curious can view his skull at the Higgins Art Gallery & Museum.
5. Unlike humans, horses are completely incapable of vomiting or burping.
6. Philip and Phillip, both common names, come from the Greek word Philippos, which means “fond of horses” and “horse-loving.”
7. An adult horse produces 9-11 gallons of saliva a day!
8. In 2018, a horse managed to save herself from the devastation of a California wildfire by accidentally falling into a pool. She came out of the situation safe and sound thanks to a helpful passerby.
9. One famous horse from the history books is Bucephalus (also known as Bucephalas), the companion of Alexander the Great.
10. An adult horse’s heart weighs around 9-11 pounds (or 1% of their body mass).
11. Human eyes sit on the front of the face, while horse eyes sit on the sides. This means they have almost 360-degree vision.
12. In 2012, Guinness World Records declared a horse named Big Jake to be the tallest in the world, coming in at a whopping 82.75 inches.
13. Burgers and steaks might taste great to us, but horses never touch meat. In fact, they’re herbivores. They mostly eat grass and hay with the occasional helping of fruits, vegetables, and grain.
14. Horses were domesticated roughly 5,000 years ago.
15. Foals (young horses) can start running shortly after they’re born. Talk about not wasting any time!
16. Horses communicate and show how they’re feeling using their ears.