There are countless different horse breeds in the world, and there are a number of amusing stories attached to many of them. We have gathered 10 here, so you can become more knowledgeable about horses around the world.

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Fun facts about horses

1. In Iceland, there are only horses of the breed Icelandic horse (Icelanders). It is illegal to import other types of horses there. Similarly, if an Icelander has been outside of Iceland, it cannot re-enter. This is to ensure that the breed remains pure, but also to avoid external diseases.
2. The Fjord horse descends from the only surviving wild horse, the Przewalski's horse, which previously lived in Asia and parts of Europe.
3. The Irish Connemara pony has Spanish ancestors. This is because, in 1855, the Spanish horse Andalusian was set free on the coast near Galway, which led to Spanish blood entering the Irish pony.
4. The breed P.R.E. stands for Pura Raza Española. It is only a horse, whose parents are registered in the official Spanish studbook LG PRE ANCCE, that can be defined as P.R.E. horses, and thus meet the standards of the breed.
5. Before 1788, there were no horses in Australia (what a terrible existence the poor Australians must have had!)
6. A thoroughbred Arabian often has only 5 lumbar vertebrae and 16 tail vertebrae, whereas most other horses have 6 lumbar vertebrae and 18-20 tail vertebrae. Hence, the head and tail of an Arabian stand higher than those of other horses.
7. The Knabstrupper is divided into four different types: the classical type, the sport type, pony, and mini pony.
8. The large Shire horse is capable of pulling a load of up to 5 tons!
9. There have been New Forest ponies in New Forest, Hampshire, since the end of the last Ice Age.
10. There is actually a faroese Horse – A DNA analysis has shown it to be a unique horse breed, not merely an icelandic horse

Read also: Is your horse getting enough sleep? Lack of deep sleep can be harmful

Source:

Equsana: The Icelandic Horse – The Nordic Thoroughbred
Dyr.dk: The Fjord Horse Through the Ages
Gloria Nolan Connemara Ponies: Top 10 Facts About the Connemara Pony
Danish P.R.E. Breeders Association: Breed Standard
Thoughtful Riding Club: Facts About Horses
HorseNet: Arabian
HorseNet: Knabstrupper
Veterinary Emergency Service: Shire Horse
The Faroe Islands: Riding