In 2022, the IFCE estimated that there were over a million equines in France. Surely you’ve met them in the countryside: but how well do you know them? Let’s dive into this new species sheet!
This species sheet was reviewed by Hélène Roche, ethologist and science popularizer, Léa Lansade, ethology researcher at INRAE, and Isabelle Desjardins, veterinarian and teacher at VetAgro Sup’s Clinéquine, specialist in equine internal medicine and intensive care.
Keep in mind
- Horses are social animals that share strong, lasting social bonds with their congeners
- Horses express their emotions through postures, facial expressions and vocalizations: it is essential to be familiar with them
- In addition to their good long-term memory, horses are capable of perceiving the emotions of a congener, even on video!
- They have a very good perception of even subtle movements, and their skin has as many nerve endings as human skin
Key Figure
15h
That’s the average time a horse spends grazing, doing so while moving around at the same time!
