I’ll be the first to admit… I’m not much of a horse person.
Not because I don’t like horses, but just because I wasn’t raised around horses and there’s so much I don’t understand about horses.
Still, certain “horse things” are intriguing to me. Some of them, I share below.
Perhaps others who have been as deprived as me in their interaction with horses will appreciate the following…
First, some humorous horse blinkers:
Fun Stuff About Horses
To give you some idea of just how clueless I am when it comes to horses:
1. Up until recently I didn’t know why they put masks (I call them “blinders”, but I think they’re called “blinkers”) over a horse’s eyes whenever the horse is just minding its own business in the field.
I thought maybe it was to prevent nervous horses from getting distressed when they’d see people or cars pass by.
I have since learned that the head covering that most horses wear outdoors is usually to prevent disease and/or sickness from flies, mosquitoes (like West Nile Virus) and other insects. And yes, bird flu and other equine illnesses do travel via insects. And, yes, horses can see through through blinkers just fine. (I did not know this.I thought their purpose was to prevent the horse from seeing things.)
Hilarious photo: A New Eye Mask Helps Horses Sleep!
2. Along these lines… did you know that those little birdhouses and boxes that you see scattered intermittently along the fences of large farms are actually mosquito traps?!
Yep, they’re used to help prevent the spread of disease and illness from insects to farm animals.
…And I just thought farmers were bird lovers!
3. Can you name all of the main parts of a horse???
Not me….
But thanks to this chart, I can now!
More Fun Facts About Horses
The average lifespan of a horse is around 20-25 years.
Horses at grass spend around 11-13 hours a day grazing.
Yes, horses can swim. Many really enjoy the water!
A horse’s hoof is always growing, just like your fingernails, so shoes need to be re-fitted regularly.
Horses generally sleep standing up, but spend some time lying down if they feel safe enough.
Me & Horses
To this day, I can remember precisely what I was wearing, what car we drove to get there, and all the smells that were new to me on the one occasion I did try horseback riding — in 2nd grade.
My friend (Courtney Causey) and her family had some horses, but that single ride was my first and last encounter with a horse.
As many of you know… I’m more of a dog lover than a horse lover, per se. Here’s my favorite dog picture that pertains to horses:
Oddly enough, however, we are considering incorporating horseshoes into our new log home — as door knobs, cabinet door pulls, and drawer handles. (We got this idea from fellow log homeowners, Lonnie & Sherry.)
Everything You Could Possibly Want To Know About Horses… And More!
I like to help people find unique ways to do things in order to save time & money — so I write about “outside the box” ideas that most wouldn’t think of. As a lifelong dog owner, I often share my best tips for living with and training dogs. I worked in Higher Ed over 10 years before switching gears to pursue activities that I’m truly passionate about. I’ve worked at a vet, in a photo lab, and at a zoo — to name a few. I enjoy the outdoors via bicycle, motorcycle, Jeep, or RV. You can always find me at the corner of Good News & Fun Times as publisher of The Fun Times Guide (32 fun & helpful websites).
