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About This Quiz
They helped us win wars. They helped us cross the land in covered wagons. They helped us farm, communicate faster with the Pony Express, and be self sufficient. Today, they are therapy animals, pets, award-winning racers and are bred to win competitive sports. Horses have been there for us since anywhere from 4000 to 2000 B.C. (depending on the source) when evidence shows man's domestication of horses. Since then, a large part of our history has been devoted to the feeding and care of these majestic animals.Â
From providing a good exercise routine to knowing what can ail them, if you're a true horse lover, you know how to keep a horse healthy. You may even know a few other interesting things about horses, not just the lifespan and what infant horses are called, but whether they are color blind or how long does it takes a horse to regrow a hoof. If you've been around horses all your life, you'll breeze through the questions about their facial expressions and vocalizations. Ready to take this quiz? If you're a true horse lover, you're sure to gallop through it. Start now!
Which of these is a type of horse?
Appaloosa
Thoroughbred
Quarter Horse
All of the above
The American Quarter Horse is one of the most popular horse breeds today because of its even temperament. If you go to the races, you'll see Thoroughbreds. Appaloosas are Native American horses.
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What is the name of the hair covering a horse's forehead?
Forelock
The forelock or foretop is thicker and coarser than the rest of the horse's coat. The mane naturally grows to roughly cover the neck.
Tail
Coat
Reins
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Which of these are horse tack?
Saddle
Girth
Bridles
All of the above
Horse tack is any equipment used to ride a horse, such as saddle, girths, cinches, bridles, or martingales. It can also refer to other items used in handling and caring for horses.
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Are horses colorblind?
Yes
No
Although at one point that was the general consensus, but actually they see color. However, they are better at seeing yellows and greens than purples and violets.
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For what is a "cinch" or "girth" used?
It makes the horse move its head right or left.
Use it to lead a horse. It's sometimes attached to a halter.
It's part of the bridle, the chin strap.
A strap that holds a saddle on a horse
A girth, sometimes called a cinch (Western riding), is a piece of equipment used to keep the saddle in place on a horse or other animal.
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What are horses hooves made of?
Bone
Metal
Keratin
Keratin is the same protein that comprises human hair and fingernails. The keratin is layered in horizontal sheets in order to add strength. It continues to grow even when the horse wears horseshoes.
Muscle
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How long can horses live?
10 -15 years
15 - 20 years
20 - 25 years
25 - 30 years
A horse, barring injury or disease, can live up to 30 years. They can also be ridden well into their senior years as long as they receive regular light exercise, nothing strenuous.
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What's the difference between Western riding and English riding?
The Western saddle is larger and heavier than the English saddle.
In English riding, the rider relies on the reins most of all to direct the horse.
In Western riding, the rider relies on shifting his weight and minimal neck-reining.
All of the above.
There are additional differences as well as those mentioned above, including seat and knee position. What's more, In English riding, the rider takes a rein in each hand, whereas Western riders take both reins in one hand.
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What's a horse's favorite flavor?
Salty
Sweet
Horses like sweet flavors and will usually reject anything sour or bitter. They will consume a salt lick, as horses require about 1-2 ounces of salt per day for the sodium and chloride minerals.
Sour
Bitter
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How is a horse's height measured?
By feet
By meters
By hands
One hand is equal to four inches. When you measure by hands, you'll measure from the level ground to the horse's withers (ridge between the shoulder blades) which is usually the tallest part of the body.
By inches
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Which of these is a type of horse?
Dalmatian
Dachshund
Arabian
Arabians are one of the oldest horse breeds. They excel in all sports despite their lack of size, but dominate in endurance riding.
Malamute
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Can horses see in the dark?
Yes
No
Although horses can see better in low light than we can, they can't see in pitch darkness. Horses have a membrane at the back of their eyes which reflects light better than ours, so we mistakenly think they can see in the dark.
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When riding a horse, for what are stirrups used?
A) It helps you mount the horse.
B) It acts as foot support when riding.
C) It helps slow the horse.
D) A & B
A stirrup is a light frame or ring that holds the foot of a rider, attached to the saddle by a strap. Stirrups are are used to aid in mounting and as a foot support while riding a horse.
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How do horses express their thoughts and feelings?
Whinnying and neighing sounds
Paw the ground
Snorting
All of the above
Whinnying and neighing sounds are elicited when horses meet or leave each other. Snorts are most common during calm and relaxing activities. Forward-pointing ears indicate a positive feeling.
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What does a bridle do?
It helps direct a horse through the use of reins.
A bridle is a piece of equipment used to direct a horse. It includes both the headstall that holds a bit that goes in the mouth of a horse, and the reins that are attached to the bit.
It is used to make a horse buck.
It is used so horses can only see in front of them.
It is used to make the horse gallop.
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We love horses, and horses love us. How big is a horse's heart?
1 pound
2 - 3 pounds
4 - 6 pounds
9 - 10 pounds
The average horse's heart weighs approximately 9 or 10 pounds. It has to keep blood pumping for a majestic animal that weighs from 840 – 2,200 pounds, depending on the breed.
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When is a foal able to run?
Within hours after birth
It's amazing, but once foals can stand, which is right after birth, they can move about and even run within hours of standing!
Within two days after birth
Within a week after birth
Within two weeks after birth
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Speaking of births, when do mares usually give birth?
A) Autumn
B) Summer
C) Spring
D) B & C
As long as it's not a forced breeding, mares usually give birth to foals in the spring and summer. It's important to have grass in full bloom, so she has plenty to eat in order to produce milk for a healthy foal.
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If a horse is looking in one direction, but its ears are pointed in another direction, what does that mean?
The horse is cross-eyed.
The horse is concentrating where his eyes are pointing.
The horse is concentrating where his ears are pointing.
The horse is looking at two different things.
Most of the time, wherever a horse's ear is pointing, is where the horse is looking with the eye (on the same side). He is intently paying attention to it. However, if the ears are pointing in different directions, the horse is looking at two different things at the same time.
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What's a "frog" when referring to a horse's hoof?
It acts as a shock absorber.
It pumps blood back up the leg.
It is a nerve in the horse's foot.
All of the above.
On the underside of a horse's hoof is a triangular shaped area called the “frog." It acts as a shock absorber and helps pump blood back up the leg. The frog has sensitivity similar to the nerves at the ends of our fingertips.
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How much water does a horse drink a day?
25 gallons or more
In Arizona in the summer, it would be much more, but the usual amount a horse drinks is at least 25 gallons of water a day.
15 gallons
10 gallons
5 gallons
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Can you tell if a horse is cold by feeling its nose?
Yes
No
It is often believed that you can tell how a dog feels by checking the temperature and moistness of its nose. But when it comes to horses, just feel behind their ears. If that area is cold, so is the horse.
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We hope this never happens to your horse, but how long does it take a horse to regrow a hoof?
Three years
2.5 years
1.5 years
Nine to 12 months
Although that's a very long time to keep a horse confined, a hoof is actually fast-growing. The average hoof grows 1/4 to 3/8 inch per month. Thus it takes nine to 12 months to re-grow an entire horse hoof.
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Those huge eyes on a horse makes them special in what way?
Amazing eyelashes
They can see almost 180 degrees.
They can see almost 360 degrees.
Horses can see almost 360 degrees because their eyes are on the sides of the head. That's why they notice objects or movements that you can't see without turning around.
They can see the smallest insect.
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There are two horses in a stable. One lays down to sleep. What will the other do?
Lay down with the other horse
Try to get the other horse to stand up
Neigh over and over again.
Continue standing while the other horse sleeps
One horse will sleep and the other horse will continue standing and be on watch for predators and provide a warning, if necessary.
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Which of these is a common hoof problem?
Abscesses
Lameness
Laminitis
All of the above
Because hooves are so important to a horse, checking their feet regularly is a good practice. Due to nutrition, sharp objects and over-riding, a number of hoof problems can affect a horse.
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How often should you brush a horse?
Once a day
Once a day horses should be groomed, starting with a stiff bristled brush (to remove dead skin and hair) and finishing with a softer brush to remove dust.
Twice a week
Weekly
Monthly
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What types of feeling can be indicated with a horses tail?
Fear
Irritation
Enthusiasm
All of the above
A flattened tail may mean fear. A tail lifted over the back might indicate enthusiasm. A swishing tail can be a sign of irritation. But most of all, a tail is used to swat flies!
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Which of these is the best exercise routine for a horse?
Walk three times a week, for about 20 to 30 minutes.
Trot three times a week, for about 20 to 30 minutes.
Canter three times a week, for about 20 to 30 minutes.
Walk-trot-canter three times a week, for about 20 to 30 minutes.
To maintain a good fitness level, but not trying to increase performance, a horse needs to be exercised by walking, trotting, cantering and a cool down three times a week, for about 20 to 30 minutes.
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How much hay does the typical 1,000-pound horse need a day? (No other food but hay.)
5 to 9 pounds
10 to 14 pounds
15 to 20 pounds
The average 1,000-pound horse that relies on hay for all its food typically eats 15 to 20 pounds of hay per day.
21 to 25 pounds
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Which of these are common feeding mistakes?
Not providing salt
Over supplementing
Calculating feed by volume, not weight
All of the above
It's important to feed both hay and concentrates by weight, not by volume, for exact measurements. Also, it may be hard to detect symptoms in the short term, in over and under supplementing, and not providing adequate salt.
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Horses have a smell-enhancing technique. What is it called?
Flehmen
When horses curl back their upper lip showing their front teeth and inhaling with nostrils that are usually closed, it's called "flehmen" (roughly translated as "testing") to determine whether a smell is good or bad.
Heavy Nose Breathing
Nehmen
Nostril Flair
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Do horses have facial expressions?
Yes
If you've hung around horses long enough, you know this one. YES. Horses use their ears, eyes and nostrils to express their mood and feelings through facial expressions.
No
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What is the tail composed of?
Bone only
Hair and bone.
Hair only
Bone, muscles, skin, and hair
The tail is an extension of the spine. There are about 15 small vertebrae that make up the bone structure of the tail. The dock consists of the muscles and skin covering It from which hair grows.
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What does it mean to "post" while you horseback ride?
Riding in the rhythm of the horse's stride
Riding in a way that is more comfortable for both rider and horse
Using your stomach muscles and legs to move up and down in the saddle
All of the above
If you're riding English, good form includes posting in order avoid bouncing on the horses back, which hurts both rider and horse. To post, use the hamstring muscles, and abdominal muscles to move up and down from the saddle seat in rhythm with the horse's stride.
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You Got:
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