Welcome to Horse-and-Tack.Com.  I'm glad you stopped by.

I created this website because I Absolutely Love Horses.  I believe there is not a more gentle, loving, elegant and graceful animal.  I also know that there are many, many more people in this world that believe this is true.

 I've tried to provide a variety of information here for the horse lover or for those that just want to know more.

    Did you know?

• The oldest horse was 62. He resided in England and was known as "old Bill." Most live until 30 or more years of age.
  
• Horses eyes are set on the side of their heads so that they can have a nearly 180-degree view. But they cannot see in front of their nose or at their rump.
  
• The horses ears can swivel. Sometimes you will see one ear go forward while the other ear goes back. The horse does this to take in all of the sounds so that they can process the information and make a split second decision about whether to react, and all while appearing to be casually eating.
  
• Horses acute sense of smell allows them to locate each other out in a crowd of horses. Allowing a horse to get your scent, tells the horse that you are a herdmate and not a predator. This allows the horse to be more agreeable to being handled.
  
• This same acute sense of smell keeps the horse from eating poisonous or bad tasting morsels.
  
• Do you think a horse's hide is really tough? It is a little tougher than our epidermis but it contains many nerve endings. How else could the horse feel a little fly!
  
• Horses are highly social creatures and speak their own language.
  • Neigh or whinny:  this is the loud call that most people associate with a horse.  This is used most often when they have been separated from their herd.  They are likely saying "Hey you, I'm over here, don't forget about me!."
    
  • Nicker:  this is a shorter and quieter version of the whinny.  It's used when the horses with a close bond greet one another.  It's like saying "Hello, I'm glad you're here."  A mare will also use it with their foal and you can only assume that she's saying "I Love You."  Horses that are very attached to their human caretakers may nicker to them as well.
    
  • Squeal:  This is normally reserved for other horses or something that it assumes is a predator.  Horses may use it with each other when they first meet.  After a muzzle (smelling) session one horse may squeal and the other horse reacts with a return squeal or an aggressive facial expression.
    
  • Snort:  This sound is made when they blow air from their nostrils.  It's most often heard when they are alarmed about something, or they see an object they are unsure of.
    
  • While grazing, the horse takes a step for nearly every bite of grass it eats.  The horse needs this exercise for both his body and mind.  Have you ever noticed a horse that's in a pen does little else but walk the fence?

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