Are horses scared of cars?

Naturally, yes, but the majority of horses quickly learn that the big roaring monsters aren't actually going to eat them. Some never do learn, though - I know a pony who failed as a carriage pony because he just could not handle sharing the road with cars and trucks.

Are horses loyal?

From my observation, yes. Horses can tell people apart and studies show they can recognize people who treated them well (or just treated them, ahem) after months of separation. And as herd animals they are loyal to their herd.

In fact horses, like dogs, are amongst the most loyal animals on the planet.

Are horses afraid of pigs?

It's a common understanding that horses are terrified of pigs.

Horses that aren't used to pigs will often shy away from them - perhaps because pigs are omnivores that wouldn't shy away from a meal of horse meat.

Pigs also smell funny even to humans and make strange noises. Oh, and they're inclined to come running up to say hi, which horses also don't appreciate.

However, I've also known an entire of herd horses to welcome a pet pig as a buddy...so once they get used to them they're fine. Or perhaps once they realize that pig is being well fed by the humans...

Can horses count?

The jury is actually out on whether horses can count. Most "counting" horses react to the body language of their handler. However, show jumpers often seem to know exactly how many strides they need to put in.

I suspect they can't count the way we can, but they have a sense of rhythm that can make it look like they are at times.

Do old horses get grouchy?

You know, like some old humans seem to.

I've definitely seen some horses develop grumpiness as they age or have bad days. On the other hand, I've seen grouchiness in younger animals too. One issue old horses may have is finding it harder to lie down to get REM sleep, resulting in sleep deprivation - and sleep deprivation makes all of us grumpy.

And, of course, a lot of older horses have arthritis, which isn't exactly going to improve their mood.

So, yeah, some older horses are very much inclined to do the equine equivalent of shaking a stick and telling you to go away.

Can horses tell if you are pregnant?

I've actually seen anecdotal evidence of this - a horse that suddenly changed his behavior towards a woman when she got pregnant. In this case, he got highly anxious. There are other stories of horses being more considerate towards pregnant women.

The truth is, it might be possible for a horse to smell the hormonal changes involved in pregnancy, but it's more likely that they're picking up on the woman's emotions and behavior. A lot of women become more careful when pregnant - and horses, with their incredible sensitivity to body language, are likely to notice that and change their own behavior accordingly. Some horses will go "My rider is being cautious, I should be cautious." Others might respond with "My rider is nervous! What's to be nervous about, I can't tell, worryworryworry." And a third personality type might be "Oooh, she's being over-cautious, what can I get away with?"

So, the most likely answer is: Yes, your horse can tell that you are pregnant - because you're inadvertently telling them. Or rather, you're telling them something has changed and they're reaction to that.

Can horses navigate stairs?

It's actually a common belief that horses (and cows) can't go down stairs. Anyone who's done serious trail riding knows the idea that a horse won't go down a steep slope because "they can't see properly" is...well, not true. Horses do prefer not to go down stairs or very steep slopes, and have been known to get "stuck" on decks not because they can't get back down the stairs but because they don't want to. Donkeys have far fewer problems with steps.

Can horses pee while running?

Nope, they have to stop and adapt a specific stance to do so. In fact, riders have to stand up in the stirrups to free their back up while they do it. Fortunately they only do it a couple of times a day.

Can horses poop while running?

Yes, although they generally prefer not to. Horses are perfectly capable of defecating at any speed, and you'll sometimes see show jumpers poop in the middle of a round. However, given the choice (i.e., not pursued by a predator or in the middle of something) they prefer to stop.

Do horses kiss?

No, they don't. They don't "kiss" the way dogs do by face licking, either. Horses simply don't use their lips to show affection, although they can use their lips to manipulate objects in ways we can't.

Can horses detect natural disasters?

There are lots of stories about horses predicting natural disasters. In fact, horses do have a good weather sense - I've had horses warn me about an incoming storm before. They are also aware of earthquakes well before we are.

They aren't psychic - they just have better hearing and can hear distant thunder, rain, or the rumble of a quake before we can. Horses may get very antsy during a storm - wild horses would try to move out of its path as much as possible and domestic ones don't always seem to quite grasp that the barn has a roof on it!

Why do horses flap their lips?

Some horses will deliberately flap their lips while being ridden, or constantly. Why do they do this?

There are several reasons. I knew one pony who flapped his lips when asked to do tedious or repetitive work - so I suspect he was doing it out of boredom. He didn't do it if the job was more interesting.

Some horses flap their lips out of anxiety - it's not uncommon for horses to flap their lips when learning a complex new maneuver.

Horses may also flap their lips after being given oral medication - perhaps a signal of disgust at the lousy taste.

Why do horses like to roll over?

Usually for one of two reasons:

1. They want a nice layer of dirt on themselves to protect them from biting insects , sun or cold.
2. They have an itch on their back.

Horses tend to roll repeatedly in the same spot, and a rolling spot in a pasture can often be spotted by the lack of grass.

Why are horses so afraid of plastic bags?

For some reason, a lot of horses spook at plastic bags (unless the bag is in your pocket and might contain a treat). Why are horses afraid of something so harmless?

The answer is that plastic bags don't smell like animals, but they have a habit of moving on their own. Horses aren't smart enough to understand that the wind is doing it. All they know is that this silly thing that smells funny is chasing them around. And anything a horse doesn't understand becomes a monster to run from - that's just how they're wired.

Do horses like cows?

Horses will generally learn to handle being turned out with cows. Horses from cow lines, though, may attempt to herd them (which might not be appreciated by the cows).

A few horses seem to be inexplicably afraid of cows. Also, turning horses out with cows increases the risk of attracting a fly that likes to lay its eggs under the skin on the animal's back - a problem when it's where the saddle goes...

Where do horses like being petted?

Not, as many people, think, their nose. A horse's nose is very sensitive. Most horses would rather be petted on the cheek or the neck. Some horses like to wrap their neck around you or hang their head over your shoulder.

And almost all horses like to be scratched at the base of the mane about halfway down the neck.

Never pet close to a horse's eye - they have very big eyes and its easy to accidentally poke them.

Do horses get jealous?

Well, we can only judge by their behavior - but I'd say yes. I've witnessed horses give dirty looks to people who were petting the barn cat (instead of them). I knew one horse who would look quite depressed and pouty if one of the nearby horses was being taken for a ride. So, I'd say they definitely get jealous when people pay more attention to others. Especially if they happen to like you.

Do horses get stressed when alone?

Horses can absolutely get stressed when ridden or kept alone - they want to be with a group. The amount depends on the personality of the horse and may be affected by other circumstances. In-heat mares, for example, may be less happy about being alone than they are when not cycling. Horses that are more used to being alone will be more relaxed about.

The best way to reduce stress for a horse that's working alone is to be confident and firm as a rider - that way you can eventually get the horse to be happy in a "herd of two."

Rarely, you get a horse that seems to be happier kept alone.

How do mares act when in heat?

To a degree, it depends on the mare. With some mares, you don't even notice. With others...

Signs of being in heat include:

Lifting the tail and winking and showing the vulva. This "invitation" behavior is most often aimed at stallions, but if there is no stallion on the premises, mares will invite geldings, other mares or even people!

Sensitivity on the back and sides. Yes, mares in heat can get cramps and sometimes need a dose of a mild painkiller.

Acting distracted and being unable to focus when being ridden. Mares in heat will tend to call more to other horses, will become stressed more when on their own, and may have difficulty focusing. I've even known mares who are clearly trying so hard to concentrate, but they just can't.

Urinating frequently and producing only small amounts of urine.

So, if you want to write a mare being in heat - think about a few of these things.

Can horses eat wood?

Certainly, quite a few of them think they can. Chewing wood is a problem and I've encountered horses and mules who will eat bare twigs. It doesn't really do them a lot of harm...or a lot of good either, as even they can't really digest it.