The horse is a fascinating animal that has existed since the dawn of time. First wild then gradually tamed by man, it is now one of the most loyal companions in the world. Let's answer 10 questions you've probably asked yourself if you're interested in horses!
1. How much does a horse cost?
This first question is very difficult because it does not have a single answer. Indeed, the price of a horse depends on several factors such as its breed, sex, age, color, and skills. Although the range is wide, it is fair to say that a pleasure horse costs between 800 and 4,000 euros, depending on the various factors we have just mentioned. However, for a sport horse intended for high-level competitions, the price can skyrocket to several tens of thousands of euros! Here again, it is mainly skills, breed, and age that come into play. The more performing a horse is, with good natural abilities and solid training before purchase, the more expensive it will be.
2. What color is Henri IV's white horse?
This well-known question is not as silly as one usually thinks. While we tend to believe that the answer is in the question, this is not really the case. There are white horses, but the color white is not officially recognized as a color belonging to horse coats. Thus, a white horse is said to have a gray coat. Henri IV's horse was therefore gray!
3. How does a horse sleep?
There are many debates between people who think a horse sleeps lying down and those who think a horse sleeps standing up. In reality, both sides are right! Indeed, the horse sleeps in these two positions, which vary depending on the situation it is in. For example, in nature, a horse tends to sleep standing up in order to be able to flee at full speed in case of danger. However, it can also lie down outdoors, but only when it finds a place where it feels safe and that meets its primary needs such as a dry and clean place. On the other hand, in stables and stud farms, a horse sleeps mostly lying down. It is protected in its stall and does not worry about the dangers lurking around it.
4. How much does a horse weigh?
A horse's weight depends on its breed, physical condition, and use. It is important to know that usually, a horse's mass is always composed of 65 to 75% water, which is distributed between 50% muscle, 11% bone, and 10% fat. Thus, draft horses used especially in fields weigh on average 500 kg to 1 ton. For saddle horses, the weight is rather 300 to 500 kg.
5. What does a horse eat?
The horse is an herbivore. To meet its vital dietary needs, it must regularly eat fiber in small quantities. Thus, this animal benefits from a varied diet: outdoors, it can eat up to 100 kg of plants and grasses per day. Indoors, although it can also eat straw, the horse primarily eats hay, forage being a basic part of its diet. Corn or oat grains can also be eaten by horses, although they do not consume them in nature. There are also concentrates to give to horses, generally consisting of forage, molasses, vitamins, or minerals. Finally, to reward a horse after an effort, fruits and vegetables are beloved treats for this animal. Be careful, however, not to give too much, at the risk of making it sick!
6. How long does a horse live?
Overall, the average life expectancy of a horse is between 20 and 35 years. However, the animal's lifespan can vary depending on its breed and how it is cared for. Thus, a draft horse can sometimes live up to 50 years!
7. How much does it cost to maintain a horse?
There are many factors to consider when calculating the cost of maintaining a horse per year. First, boarding in a stable costs approximately €150 to €250 for pasture board versus €300 to €450 for stall board. In the specific case of training stables, board varies between €800 and €1,300. Then, for its food, an allowance of €1,000 to €1,600 per year must be provided. Next come the health-related costs: insurance is mandatory and costs approximately €35, the same goes for a mutual insurance where simple plans cost €40, but the price can increase depending on the different guarantees.
For the horse to be able to exercise in complete tranquility, the farrier's trimming must also be included in its budget, approximately €250, as well as shoeing all four hooves, which is estimated at €600 to €700 each year. Finally, deworming and vaccination of the animal, which costs €70, dental care, which is around €80, and in some cases osteopathy sessions, between €70 and €110, must also be considered.
8. Why are there painted horses in the Lascaux cave?
Out of the 600 animals represented in the mythical Lascaux cave, the horse is the star, appearing more than 350 times. But why is the horse so often represented? The answer is simple: unlike other animals living at that time, humans had already forged a close bond with the horse, almost becoming its friend. This animal was a source of great fascination for men, inspiring values of freedom, elegance, and loyalty that were not found in any other specimen until then. It is therefore entirely fair to consider the horse a sacred animal, as it has always been perceived as such by many peoples and at many different times.
9. Why was the horse chosen as a trap during the attack on Troy?
The expression "Trojan horse" originates from one of the most famous episodes of the Trojan War, recounted by Homer in The Iliad and The Odyssey. Indeed, after besieging the city of Troy in vain for more than ten years, the Athenians came up with the idea of the century. They decided to pretend to lift the siege, leaving behind a huge hollow wooden horse, in which Odysseus and his soldiers were hidden. Fascinated by this incredible structure, the Trojans brought the horse inside the city. It was only the following night that the Greek soldiers emerged from their hiding place to finally seize the city.
The first reason why the horse is considered to have been chosen for the attack on Troy is primarily technical: indeed, the body of a wooden horse is an ideal structure for hiding due to its elongated shape, thus allowing the soldiers enough space and height to comfortably await the start of the confrontation. The second reason is that the horse was adored by the Greeks at that time, evoking strong values that fascinated this people, so this choice served to make this "work of art" loved so that it would be brought into the city.
10. Where does the children's song "la montagne à cheval" come from?
"Elle descend de la montagne à cheval" (She's Coming Down the Mountain on Horseback) is a children's nursery rhyme. It is translated from the popular American song She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain. The American version itself is inspired by a Negro spiritual (a type of vocal and sacred music practiced by black slaves in the United States in the 19th century) called When the Chariot Comes. In its French version, this song has become a very popular refrain in summer camps, scout camps, and other recreational centers. The best-known version is by the famous singer Hugues Aufrey!
We hope you enjoyed this top 10 most frequently asked questions about horses!
