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 to ensure that the horse’s …
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 lived (1736-1819) in a time …
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 and is not a black-and-white …
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 of zebra killing a human …
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 for £100,000 in damages. She …
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 are desirable for rodeos. The …
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 is sexually mature he can …
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 thousands of years. Today we …
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. The word originates from the …
