December 10th is National Horse Day, so we thought it would be fun to share some interesting facts about these magnificent mammals.
• There are approximately 60 million horses in the world, and have been domesticated for around 5000 years. Today, domestic horses have a lifespan of around 25 years.
• There is only one species of domestic horse, which includes approximately 400 breeds.
• A horse’s height is measured “hands,” with one hand being equal to four inches. The tallest horse on record was a Shire named Sampson born in Toddington Mills, England in 1846. Sampson was 21.2 hands (7 feet, 2 inches) tall!
• A male horse is called a stallion, a female horse is called a mare. A young male horse is called a colt, and a young female horse is called a filly. Small horses are called ponies.
• Horses can sleep lying down or while standing. When in a herd, not all horses will lie down at the same time to sleep. One will always remain standing to guard the herd from predators.
• Horses have bigger eyes than any other land mammal, and the position their eyes on the side of their head allows them a to take in a nearly 360 degree view at one time!
• Horses gallop at around 27 miles per hour, and the fastest recorded sprinting speed of a horse was an astonishing 55 miles per hou