Horses are fascinating creatures, and even the lifelong equestrians can tell you that there is always more to learn about them. Everyday they will teach you something new, whether it be about them or about yourself. Horses, just like humans, are distinct individuals with unique personalities and traits, so even if you fully understand the behavior, anatomy, and preferences of one horse you’re starting at square one with each new horse you encounter.
If horses are something new to your life or a recent interest of yours, there may be a seemingly overwhelming amount of information to know. But all equestrians of all levels have one thing in common: they’re all lifelong learners. We all started somewhere on this horse journey, but here are five things that even the most experienced of horseback riders might not know.
1. Only one horse is truly “wild”
The Przewalski’s Horse, while technically a different species than domesticated horses, is the only truly “wild” horse in the world today. The Przewalski’s Horse and domesticated horses are subspecies of the same common ancestor, so they are pretty similar. But the horses that we know and love to ride today were first domesticated by humans a few thousand years ago, and we’ve been working side by side ever since.
The Przewalski’s Horse is a truly wild animal from Central Asia, and they have never been domesticated or tamed. They nearly went extinct and are still considered to be an incredibly endangered species, but thanks to many zoos and conservation organizations around the world who kept breeding programs alive and well, they have recently been reintroduced to their wild habitats. Many zoos still have them as well though, but they are certainly not the friendly natured horses like the ones we ride, they have maintained their wild side and have no plans of changing anytime soon.
Now, you might be thinking, what exactly are the free-roaming horses of the Western USA if they’re not wild? The truth is that they are actually feral horses that descended from escaped domesticated horses brought over by Spanish conquistadors several hundred years ago. Since they have spent so many generations running free and living off the land, they are notorious for being less easily tamed than a horse born and raised in a barn. However, they are still considered domesticated horses since they are the same species, making them feral rather than truly wild.
2. Horses Can’t breathe through their mouth
Many experienced equestrians are well educated on the fact that horses cannot vomit or even burp, which makes colic such a risky yet unfortunately common condition for horses to get. For those that may not know, colic is a condition that horses can get that is essentially a digestive upset of some sort; it could be anything from a mild stomach ache to a twisted gut, which is a life-threatening situation for a horse. It is not an illness on its own, but rather a symptom of an underlying issue in the digestive system.
While the concerns surrounding a horse’s digestive system are taught from a beginner’s level onwards in equestrianism and is therefore common knowledge, many people don’t realize that this means horses can’t breathe through their mouths, either. This is due to the fact that horses are exclusively nasal breathers with a soft palate that is sealed between the nose and the mouth to protect them from choking while grazing.
Humans, on the other hand, have a flexible soft palate that ends in the uvula toward the back of the mouth which allows us to switch between breathing through our nose and mouth. Since horses don’t have the ability to breathe through their mouths, they are better protected from choking on their food, but do have to be more intentional in their breathing patterns because of it. Have you ever noticed how a horse takes one breath per stride while galloping?
3. Their closest living relatives include the Rhinoceros and Tapir
While a horse’s absolute closest relative still alive today is the Przewalski’s Horse listed above, they are actually distant cousins of the Rhinoceros and Tapir. Horses are often associated with or compared to zebras in many ways, which makes sense given that they do look similar anatomically and thanks to movies like Racing Stripes, a classic for horse-loving children. However, in reality, zebras are actually much more closely related to donkeys than they are to horses, but all of the above are distant cousins of rhinoceros and tapirs.
Most people would probably recognize a rhinoceros in an instant, but a tapir might be a little more obscure. They come from parts of South America as well as Asia, and if you imagine a large, gray pig with a short trunk instead of a snout, you’d be pretty spot on. How on earth are these related to horses, though?
Horses (as well as donkeys, zebras, etc), tapirs, and rhinos share a common ancestor from about 55 million years ago. They share the trait of being “odd-toed” on their feet, meaning that they only have one to three toes on their back feet as distinct hooves which likely evolved for better speed and durability on rough terrains. Horses technically just have one big toe under their hooves, which is amazing given how agile they are!
So there you have it, three random facts about horses, their anatomy, and their relatives. There is always room to learn more when it comes to horses, they are truly a life-long commitment in many ways and have more to teach us than we can comprehend.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the difference between wild and feral horses?
Wild horses have never been domesticated, while feral horses are descendants of domesticated animals that now live freely in the wild.
2. What is colic in horses?
Colic is a general term for abdominal pain in horses, often caused by digestive issues ranging from mild discomfort to severe intestinal problems.
3. Are horses related to zebras?
Yes. Horses, zebras, and donkeys all belong to the same animal family known as Equidae.
4. Are all horses the same species?
Most modern domestic horses belong to the same species, although there are different breeds with unique characteristics.
5. How did horses become domesticated?
Horses were first domesticated thousands of years ago by humans who used them for transportation, agriculture, and companionship.
6. Why are horses still important today?
Horses continue to play important roles in sports, agriculture, therapy, and recreation around the world.