Dr Desmond Morris says that when a racehorse loses a race the trainer and the jockey have to find fancy reasons as to why it happened other than the fact that the horse is not a fast runner in order … Continue reading →
One horsepower is the force needed to move 33,000 pounds a foot in a minute. The Scottish inventor, mechanical engineer, and chemist who decided this was James Watt. He wanted to make the power of steam engines more understandable. He … Continue reading →
Yes, horses are one of a rare group of species who appear to have self-awareness and are able to recognise themselves in a mirror. The testing process is called mirror self-recognition (MSR). The degree of recognition appears to be variable … Continue reading →
Yes, technically and practically zebras can kill humans. They have the weapon, their legs and hooves. But my research indicates that it must be exceptionally rare for a zebra to kill a human. In fact I cannot find a record … Continue reading →
Lisa Ford was crushed while out hunting on a horse that she had borrowed. She was badly injured and she’s seeking compensation from the horse’s owner. What chance has she got of winning? She’s suing the owner of the horse … Continue reading →
A bucking bronco is a half-broken horse that is difficult to handle. You hear the phrase used in the old Western movies. The name ‘bronco’ has a Mexican influence and comes from the Spanish word ‘bronco’ meaning rough. Bucking broncos … Continue reading →
Here are 3 facts about geldings; the word ‘gelding’ and the derivative ‘gelded’. Meaning The word “gelding” refers to a colt (a weaned male horse until he is four years old) who has been castrated i.e. neutered. When a colt … Continue reading →
This is the origin of the word ‘pony’. I have created a flow chart to explain the origin and evolution of the English word ‘pony’ as the creation of a modern word is a evolutionary process over hundreds and sometimes … Continue reading →
The word ‘hack’ in the context of horses refers to a horse that is for hire or is used for simple riding work. It describes a standard course of moderate quality unsuited to hunting or other specialised purposes or activities. … Continue reading →
Horses don’t get cold feet when standing in snow under very cold conditions because they do not have muscle mass below the knee or hock. The lower leg is mostly made up of bone and tendon which is much better … Continue reading →
There is a police horse called Buzz Man who is very affectionate towards his human partner. She quotes a passage written by a guy called John Lyons who I’ve have not heard of who states that, “When your horse follows … Continue reading →
The word ‘horse’ means any horse, wild or domestic, of either gender. The word ‘mare’ describes a female horse. I guess you know that and want to know the distinguishing difference in terms of anatomy between a horse and a … Continue reading →
The origin of the word “jockey” goes back at least several centuries in Britain but as far as I can tell we don’t know the exact date of the origin. The word “jockey” is a derivation of the name Jack … Continue reading →
This is a very old saying based on superstition and it appears that the phrase “hag-ridden” applies to both people and horses. A hag-ridden person is one afflicted by nightmares or anxieties. A typical sentence might read, “He was hag-ridden … Continue reading →
A Swiss artist, Henry Fuseli (7 February 1741 – 17 April 1825) is the person who introduced a female horse, a mare, into the description of a bad dream which is called a “nightmare”. We don’t know why Fuseli introduced … Continue reading →
We can start the answer by checking out the Guinness World Record which is 43.97 mph (70.76 km/h) over 2 furlongs. The horse was a thoroughbred racehorse named Winning Brew, a two-year-old filly. The world record occurred at the Penn … Continue reading →
Donkeys are sentient beings. They have feelings and if you don’t believe that I would respectfully suggest that you are badly mistaken. As they have feelings they have the potential to love although the word “love” is a very elastic … Continue reading →
Dr Sue Dyson is an internationally renowned equine veterinarian. She was carrying out research into how the weight of a horse rider affects a horse’s health. The research was partly funded by the British Equestrian Federation and World Horse Welfare. … Continue reading →
A horse’s leg movements carry messages to the recipients be they another horse or a person. Pawing on the ground This action originates in a horse scratching the surface of the ground to test its resistance or to understand what … Continue reading →
I’ll describe 4 horse body signals and what they mean. General demeanour When a horse takes up a more elevated posture, standing tall and proudly with the head held high and the tail standing up it reflects an elevated and … Continue reading →
