Every horse owner has been impressed by their four-legged friend at some point. For those who are new to the equine life, you’re certainly in for a treat. The truth is, these majestic animals are full of traits that will make you say “wow!” If you don’t believe us, just check out these 5 amazing facts about horses.
1. They Have 350-Degree Vision
With the ability to scope nearly all 360 degrees, horses can see a wide range of their surroundings. Their eyes are on the sides of their heads, which gives them a huge advantage to spotting predators and keeping out of harm’s way. Their only blind spots are directly in front and directly behind them. Good luck trying to play hide and seek with a horse!
2. They Chew One Side At A Time
Us humans chew in an up-and-down motion which gives us freedom to use both sides simultaneously. Horses, on the other hand, chew in an outside-to-inside slanted motion. This motion only allows a horse to focus on one side of the mouth at a time when chewing. The slant depends on the matching surfaces of the upper and lower cheek teeth. It’s no wonder they are prone to tooth aches!
3. They Can’t Breathe Through Their Mouths
It may sound crazy, but horses can only breathe through their nostrils. Horses’ respiratory systems prevent them from breathing through their mouths, which is why they are considered obligate nasal breathers. This is due to the air tight seal formed from the epiglottis resting above the soft palate whenever the horse is not swallowing. The air tight seal keeps them safe by preventing horses from inhaling their food. So be sure to keep their nostrils clean of dirt and debris!
4. They Produce Up To 10 Gallons Of Saliva Per Day
No, they’re not spitting behind your back. Horses are huge animals, so they require a lot more saliva to help ease their food’s passage into the stomach and esophagus. Their saliva also reduces the risk of gastric ulcers by neutralizing stomach acid. The more horses eat, the more saliva they’ll produce as they chew.
5. Their Digestive Tracts Are 4x Larger Than Ours
Humans have digestive tracts that would measure out to about 25 ft if stretched out. But that’s nothing compared to these guys! Adult horses have digestive tracts that would measure out to around 100 ft if stretched from end to end. That’s a long way for food to travel, which explains why they need so much saliva!
Now that you have this new knowledge about horses, you can better understand why they act the way they do. These are only a few reasons why horses are so interesting, so don’t think you can’t still be surprised by them. If you pay attention to your horse’s behavior, we’re sure they’ll impress you even more!