Six Fun Facts About Horses
Why do riders get on the left side of a horse? When a horse was the main source of transportation, a man usually wore a sword on his belt. The sword was on the man's right side so he could draw it quickly. When the man was getting on the horse, it was easier for both the horse and the man to get on the left side so the sword did not get in the way. Today, horses are still trained to allow the rider to mount from the left side. Many horses will move away if the rider tries to mount from the right side.
Why is a horse measured in hands? Horses are traditionally measured in "hands", this was originally the width of a man's hand. Today, it is standardized to mean four inches. The horse is measured from the ground to the top of his shoulders. Before tape measures were invented, a man would use his hand to see how tall the horse was. He could tell someone who had not seen the horse how tall it was and the person would understand.
What is the tallest horse breed? The tallest horse breed is a Shire which is a draft horse. These tall horses were bred to work in fields pulling plows and to pull heavy wagons. The Shire horse stands about 18 hands high. This would mean a Shire horse would average about 72 inches tall. (4 inches times 18 hands= 72 inches tall)
What is the smallest horse breed? The smallest horse breed is the miniature horse. It stands 7 hands, or 28 inches tall. In 2007, the world's smallest horse met the world's biggest horse. A picture of the two horses was posted on the internet.
Why does a horse cock its rear hoof? The horse is sleeping. Horses lie down for about 45 minutes a day. They actually sleep nearly three hours a day. A horse will cock it's back foot while it is taking a short nap during the day.
Why should a rider keep his heels down? A rider's heels act as an anchor to keep the rider on the horse. If a horse changes directions or stops fast, the rider could fly over the horse's head or fall off. By keeping the heels down, the rider has better control of his body and will be able to stay on the horse easier.
Published by Sharyl Stockstill - Featured Contributor in Lifestyle
Sharyl Stockstill is a Top 500 Associated Content producer with articles on Shine, Y! Finance, Y! News, Y! Movies, Y Television and Y! Sports. She has also been published in numerous print publications inclu... View profile
- Shires: Gentle GiantsA short summary of the Shire breed.
- Captivating Facts About HorsesGiddy- Yap! Giddy-Yap! Giddy- Yap! Is a common term heard around horses as these hoffed, herbivourous, beautiful mammals walk, trot, canter or gallop along.
- Horse Breed: TaishuhThe Taishuh horse is a nearly extinct ancient horse breed from Japan. It is believed that this breed would date back to the eight century. Taishuh, or Taisu, as some call this breed, originated in the Tsu Islands in t...
Little Known Facts About Wayne NewtonRead this informative article and learn some more little known facts about Wayne Newton you'll find interesting!
- Beligian Draft Horse: Breed Characteristics
- The Clydesdale Horse
- Breed Characteristics- Clydesdale Horse
- Playing Bible Trivia Games & Quizzes Can Be Fun for the Entire Family
- Livestock Trivia
- History of Horses in England Through the Seventeenth Century
- What is a Hand in Horses?
1 Comments
Post a CommentCorrection to Six Fun Facts About Horses. Swords were traditionally worn on the left side and draw with the right hand across the front body. Mounting from the left keeps the scabbard from impeding mounting. Member: Company of Military Historians (try doing it sometime)