We horse people pride ourselves on knowing a lot about the animals we love. But it might intrigue you to learn a thing or two about our equine partners that are surprising, fascinating, and even funny. Here are our top ten obscure facts:
1. Open wide. It is estimated that horses chew 40,000 times per day. Male horses sport four extra, pointy “canine” or “fighting” teeth called tushes. And despite the miniature horse’s small size, the size of their teeth have not changed, sometimes requiring molar or premolar removal to prevent overcrowding.
2. Vision test. A horse can see approximately 300 degrees because their eyes are on the side of their heads (making it harder for predators to sneak up on them). They have what is called monocular and binocular vision, so when a horse looks to either side, each eye sees independently. Apparently whichever direction an ear is pointed is where that eye is looking on the same side.