11 Facts About Horses That’ll Shock You

Think you know everything about horses? Think again. Our 11 surprising facts about horses will shock and amaze you.

Although everyone is familiar with dogs and cats, plenty of people are happy to talk about their love for horses. Whether you grew up on a farm and had horses of your own or you enjoy these majestic beings, there’s plenty you probably didn’t know about them.

If you’re looking for some unbelievable facts about horses, you’ve come to the right place! 

Let’s get started.

1. Horse’s Teeth Don’t Stop Growing

Although it happens more so when their teeth are still developing, horses’ teeth continue to grow throughout most of their lives. They even require regular filing from dentists, so their teeth don’t get too sharp. If a dentist doesn’t check them, it can be painful for them.

2. Horses Produce 3-10 Gallons of Saliva Daily

Although this fact is a bit gross, saliva helps the horse to swallow food easily. It also prevents ulcers from forming in the digestive tract. Weirdly enough, saliva is only produced when horses eat, and since they’re grazing all day, it explains why they produce so much saliva!

3. Horses Sleep Standing Up

Imagine having to sleep standing up. It wouldn’t be so comfortable, right? Well, for houses, that’s their usual nightly routine! 

Sometimes horses sleep lying down but only for short periods of time.

4. Horses Can Live for More Than 30 Years

If you’re thinking of owning a horse, you might be wondering how long a horse lives. Thanks to the advancement of horse nutrition and care, their life expectancy has increased! 

If you’re interested in horse riding, know you’ll be able to enjoy their company for years to come. You can even log your progress in a handy horse riding journal.

5. Horses Don’t Eat Meat

It’s strange to think about, but horses are herbivores. This means that their diet contains no animal products. This is because their digestive system is designed to process only plant matter. 

6. Horses Are Not Native to North America

Although you may have seen classic movies where cowboys ride off into the sunset with their trusty best friend, every horse on the North American continent is a descendant of European horses. Horses disappeared from the Americas more than 8,000 years ago. There’s even fossil evidence that the ancestor of horses lived here previously.

7.A Baby Horse Is Called a Foal

If you’ve ever heard the word foal and wondered what it meant, this fact is for you. A goal is a baby horse. After it is weaned from its dam, it’s called a weanling.

8. Horses Can’t Burp 

Since a horse’s digestive system is a one-way street, they aren’t able to burp. At least not the way humans do. Although they’re able to process tough fibrous food, you won’t be hearing any belching from them!

9. Horses Can’t Vomit

In the same way that horses can’t burp, they can’t vomit either. This is thanks to the strong muscles around their esophagus. That’s why horses suffer from colic. 

10. The Original Horse Was the Size of a Golden Retriever

One of the best weird facts is that the original horse was the size of a golden retriever. They resembled a small goat or deer more than a modern-day horse. This was about 50 million years ago.

11. Grey Horses Aren’t Born Grey

If you’ve seen a grey horse, they most likely were born black, brown, or chestnut. As they get older, they usually lighten in color and become grey. It goes to show that looks can be deceiving. 

Interesting Facts About Horses

There’s always something fascinating to learn about your favorite animal, including horses! You may know them as a cowboy’s best friend, but they’re clearly so much more than that. Hopefully, this inspires you to seek out more fun facts about other animals.

Looking for more articles like this? Be sure to check out the horse section of our blog!