Horses have been human companions for many centuries. They eat whatever they find near them, which excludes them from the categories of hunters, but they still have an amazing sight to lookout for predators. To understand your horse better, it is essential to know their perspective and how they see the world. Like humans, horses experience the world with 5 senses.
Following are the important points you must know about your horse’s view of world:
Hearing
Do you know your horse’s sense of hearing is better than yours? Horse’s ears are referred to as mobile ears. This is because they are able to comprehend all the sounds present in the environment irrespective of the direction. A horse’s sense of hearing also helps them to locate their orientation in the dark. Although they can catch higher frequencies than humans, their ability to localize brief high frequency sounds is restricted.
Taste
With their sense of taste, horses can differentiate between poisonous and nonpoisonous plants, which help them survive in the environment. They have taste receptors, similar to taste buds, which are commonly located on the roof of the mouth and the rear portion of the tongue. Horses can also differentiate between salty, sour, sweet, and bitter flavors. That is the reason their food preferences are separate too. The German Horse Muffins are a sweet and chewy indulgence for horses made from fresh, all-natural ingredients and guaranteed to please your horses taste buds.
Smell
Horses have a strong sense of smell. They can detect the presence of other horses nearby, just with this sense. Smelling is also the way with which they can detect one horse or individual from another. The smell remains in the horse’s brain for a long time. Their nostrils are designed to take in a greater number of molecules. That is the reason why a horse is able to smell human sweat because of fear or anxiety and then respond accordingly.
Horses also learn association through their sense of smell and stay away from danger or an unpleasant event or location. They can even smell if the water and food they are having is clean or not.
Sight
Horses can see the world with a 360° angle. However, they have two blind spots. One is located in front of their nose, and the other, right behind the tail. Their vast line of sight helps them search for food easily. They have the biggest eyes compared to any other animal. They are also equipped with night vision, but the focus is less clear.
Whether it’s near sightedness or far sightedness, horses can see both ways because of their ability to focus. If the horse is looking downwards, it can also see what is happening afar at the same time. They can detect sudden movements, but they can’t distinguish between small details. Horses can see fewer colors, and can only differentiate between yellow and white.
Touch
The sense of touch of a horse is extremely sensitive, which even helps them identify flies on their skin. The sense of touch is one of the most developed and important for the horse in terms of human interaction. The nose, lips, mouth, and possibly the ears are the most sensitive areas to touch. They can also detect when the hair on their body is touched, which helps them protect their sensitive organs such as; eyes, mouth, and nose. Their hair plays the role of a protective shield and you must not shave it off from your horse’s body.
Knowing that a horse can feel a fly that lands on its back makes it even more obvious that an effective insect repellent can help alleviate their discomfort during fly season.
To ensure your horse’s senses are functioning properly, it is advised to get them checked by a medical professional on a regular basis. With proper care and measures to prevent diseases, you can assist them in interacting with their environment, protecting themselves with their senses and understanding their surroundings in a better manner.
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