Horses are truly amazing creatures, and the more time spent with them, the more there is to discover. Even seasoned horse owners often learn new and fascinating things daily. While many appreciate the grace and power of horses, there are some particularly peculiar traits that make these animals unique. This article delves into some of the strangest and most intriguing facts about horses that might surprise even the most devoted enthusiasts.
Understanding Equine Classification
For the science enthusiasts, it’s interesting to note that horses share an evolutionary order with animals that look nothing like them, such as rhinos and tapirs. Horses and donkeys are different species, but more broadly, horses, rhinos, and tapirs all belong to the Order Perissodactyla. This classification system, which includes Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species, helps scientists categorize and study the vast diversity of life. Horses, for example, are in Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata, Class Mammalia, Order Perissodactyla, Family Equidae, Genus Equus, Species Equus Ferus, and subspecies Equus Ferus Caballus. This grouping is based on shared characteristics, such as being hoofed mammals with an uneven number of toes. While some theories suggest common ancestry, those who believe in creation understand that animals were designed according to their kinds.
Unique Physical Traits
Mustaches on Horses?
Believe it or not, some horses can grow mustaches! While all horses have whiskers around their lips and nose, certain breeds, like Friesians, Haflingers, and Gypsy Vanners, develop thick, curly hair that forms a distinct mustache. These aren’t just for show; these curled hairs are actually sensory fibers that aid the horse in navigation and touch perception. It’s a charming characteristic that adds to their unique appeal.
The Mystery of Chestnuts
Every horse possesses “chestnuts,” which are odd, horny growths found on the inside of their legs. These growths continue to grow and eventually peel off. While some evolutionary theories propose they are remnants of extra toes from ancient ancestors, other beliefs suggest they might be scent glands that help foals bond with their mothers. Their sensitivity also points to a potential role in the horse’s sensory system. The exact purpose remains a subject of ongoing research and fascination.
Genetic Quirks and Breeding
Lethal White Foal Syndrome
A concerning genetic mutation in pinto horses, linked to the overo gene, can result in a fatal condition for foals. When two horses carrying the overo gene are bred, they can produce a completely white foal with blue eyes. While appearing healthy at birth, this condition, known as Lethal White Foal syndrome (LWF), paralyzes the foal’s colon, leading to colic and death within a few days. Unfortunately, there is no effective treatment, and most foals are euthanized. Even horses without obvious overo coats can carry the gene, and breeding two carriers increases the risk of producing an LWF foal.
The Uncommon Fertility of Mules
Generally, mules are considered sterile due to their mixed chromosomal makeup (donkeys have 62 chromosomes, horses have 64). However, there are documented cases of female mules giving birth to foals, sometimes even producing fertile offspring. Some female mules are also utilized in modern breeding practices as embryo recipients, carrying horse foals to term. This technique has even played a role in saving certain breeds, like the Gypsy Vanner, from extinction.
Stallion x Female Mule Cross Difficulties
Breeding a stallion with a female donkey (jenny) to produce a hinny is significantly more challenging than breeding a jack donkey with a mare to produce a mule. While the latter is relatively common, achieving a successful pregnancy with a stallion and jenny is difficult. Hinnies are also not fertile, although some stallions may still exhibit breeding behaviors. Due to these difficulties, the breeding of mules remains the more prevalent practice.
Surprising Behaviors and Abilities
The Inability to Burp
For the most part, horses are unable to burp due to the specific structure of their digestive systems. However, there have been rare instances recorded where horses have burped, challenging this general rule. These occurrences are exceptional, highlighting that while it’s not a typical behavior, it’s not entirely impossible.
The Equine “Magnifying Glass” in the Nose
Mammals possess a specialized organ in their noses called the Jacobson’s organ, which functions somewhat like a sensory magnifying glass. When a horse encounters an interesting scent, it can lift its upper lip, allowing the smell to pass over this organ. This process helps the horse identify the scent more precisely and store it in its memory. Stallions use this to determine a mare’s heat cycle or to identify the scent of rivals’ droppings. This remarkable sensory adaptation plays a crucial role in their social interactions and environmental awareness.
Zebras’ Unique Vocalizations
While zebras are equines, they cannot produce the characteristic whinny or nicker common to horses. Instead, zebras make a diverse range of sounds, including noises that resemble a donkey’s bray or even a puppy’s whine. Crossbreeds like zorses and zonkeys often exhibit a vocal range that blends characteristics from both parent species, sometimes making it difficult to discern their primary vocal influence.
Historical Feeding Practices
Turkmen Horses and Cooked Chicken
Historically, a specific breed of horse, the Turkmen racing horse, was known to be fed a unique diet that included cooked chicken, dates, and other desert foods. To manage their weight, they were also covered with sheets to encourage sweating. While Turkmen horses are no longer extant, their close relatives, the Akhal-Tekes, are believed to have inherited many of their distinctive traits.
These unusual facts highlight the incredible diversity and fascinating adaptations found within the horse species. Each characteristic, from their genetic predispositions to their unique sensory organs, contributes to what makes a horse, a horse.
