10 interesting facts about horses I horsevoyage.it

10 interesting facts about horses

HORSES BOND WITH A FRIEND

Every horse chooses a best friend within its herd. Horses have a real need for social contact. For this reason, horses that live in stables are able to develop a truly special relationship with their owner.
A MEMORY LIKE AN ELEPHANT’S
Horses have a very active memory. They remember places, people and situations. This is confirmed by a study conducted by the ethologist Sankey, from the University of Rennes, and published in the journal *Animal Behaviour*. These majestic animals appear to possess many abilities, including the ability to remember people who have been friendly towards them, showing their gratitude in their own way.
THEY SPEAK WITH THEIR EARS
Thanks to a study conducted by the University of Sussex in the UK and published in the journal *Current Biology*, it has been scientifically proven for the first time that these animals use their ears and eyes in a rather sophisticated and complex manner.
DELIVERY ROOM
Within minutes of being born, the foal is already able to stand on its own feet and, in the wild, is capable of fleeing in the event of danger. The herd therefore forms a protective circle to prevent it from putting itself in immediate danger. Another interesting aspect is that the other females in the herd look after the foal until the mother has fully regained her strength.
THEY DON’T ALWAYS SLEEP STANDING UP
THEY ARE CURIOUS
Horses are very skittish animals, but also very curious. This behaviour stems precisely from their timid and shy nature, which leads them to investigate new things to make sure they are not dangerous. Riders know full well how their ‘four-legged friends’ can get spooked and overreact to the fall of a leaf or the flight of a bird.
THEY CANNOT VOMIT
SUPER VISION
It’s not a superpower, but a nuisance. Basically, as horses can see a 340° field of view with each eye, they see two different images that are sent to two different parts of the brain. In effect, they experience two realities simultaneously, which differ by a few degrees of perspective. To a horse, we look like giants. Be patient and gentle with them.
THEY DON’T LAUGH, THEY SMELL
IT IS METEOROPATHIC
Shortly before a storm or wind, horses become nervous, restless and aggressive. When living in the wild, horses live in herds and, if adverse weather conditions are imminent, the lower-ranking members of the herd will position themselves in a circle around the higher-ranking ones.
The horses will form a circle with their backs to the wind, and the less important members of the group and those who are weaker and occupy marginal positions within the hierarchy will stand on the outside so that those who occupy a central role and a higher rank in the hierarchy can be protected from the elements by the bodies of the others.