🐴 Horse Quiz – Test Your Equestrian Knowledge

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Horse Races

Horse racing first originated among the ancient tribesmen of Central Asia in about 4 500 BC. The first documented horse race was held in France in 1651 when two noblemen entered into a wager. In the US it is thought that the first horse races started with the occupation of New York City in the 1600s.

Quiz Questions

Which famous race horse takes place on the first Saturday of May each year in Louisville?

Preakness Stakes
Kentucky Derby
The Everest
Durban July

Which race horse recorded the fastest speed (43.97 mph) over two furlongs?

Winning Brew
War Admiral
Secretariat
Seabiscuit

Which medieval sport involved two riders striking at each other with lances?

Curling
Skittles
Quintain
Jousting

Which prehistoric animal did the horse evolve from?

Entelodon
Oculudentavis
Eohippus
Indricotherium

Which is the biggest horse breed?

Shire
Belgian Draft Horse
Clydesdale
American Cream Draft

What is the name of the person who trims the horse's feet?

Equine-assisted therapist
Horse trainer
Equine Nutritionist
Farrier

To which body part do you measure a horse?

Chest
Its withers
Top of the head
Its rump

What horse breed is the most popular in the United States?

Arabian Horse
Mustang
American Quarter Horse
Thoroughbred

What is the name of the only surviving species of wild horses?

Akhal-Teke
Appaloosa
Mustang
Przewalski’s horse

What is an equestrian sport where the horse is ridden in such a way that it develops obedience, flexibility, and balance?

3-day Eventing
Dressage
Skijoring
Show Jumping

What are the physical cues used to direct a horse?

Reins
Your legs
Your seat
All of the above

What is a well-trained pony good for?

Teaching children to ride
Pulling a cart or sled
Trial riding
All of the above

What was the name of George Washington's favorite horse?

Lysithea
Nelson
Fancy
Lady

A horse is the title character in which 19th century children's classic novel by Anna Sewell?

Paaliaq
Shadow of the Moon
Black Beauty
Twilight Zone

Which winged horse was fathered by Poseidon in Greek mythology?

Svadilfari
Pegasus
Hugin
Aethon

In the year 1973, which horse won the Triple Crown?

Secretariat
Seabiscuit
Count Fleet
Justify

Which horse hold the world record for the highest jump?

Yancy
Babeica
Cisco
Huaso ex-Faithful

For what amount was Fusaichi Pegasus sold?

$70 million
$15 million
$32 million
$2,5 million

What is a horse called with a golden body and a white or silver tail?

Sorrel
Pinto
Skewbald
Palomino

What is the smallest breed of horse?

Falabella
Shetland pony
Noma Pony
Icelandic Horse

Race Speed

Horse races are run over various distances, with an average distance of five or six furlongs (220 yards). Horses will run the six-furlong race in an average time of 1 minute and 12 seconds. Juvenile horses normally start with the five-furlong race.

Medieval Sport

Medieval knights had tournaments where the knights competed in various sports. This was seen as part of their training as knights. Knights won a lot of prestige by being the best at a tournament.

Prehistoric Horses

Horses share a common ancestry with tapirs and rhinoceros. They all have hooved feet an odd number of toes and mobile upper lips. The earliest ancestor of the modern horse was a small animal, about the size of a fox, that lived 53 million years ago.

The Biggest Horses

Horses come in a lot of different sizes, with an average horse being around 5 feet tall and weighing 800-1200 pounds. There are, however, exceptions to this, with some horses growing to a massive 17 hands and a weight of up to 2,400 pounds.

Horse's Feet

Horse feet continually grow, much like our nails. Most horses cannot wear this down on their own, and this excess growth has to be trimmed off. Horses are also fitted with steel shoes that protect their feet.

How to Measure Horses

Horses are measured from the ground up. The unit that is used to measure a horse, is "hands", where one hand is 4 inches. This measurement originated in ancient Egypt. A horse that is 17 hands high, is considered a big horse, while a pony is any horse under 14.2 hands.

Horses in the USA

Horses are very popular in the USA, in fact, it is the country with the most horses in the world. Americans have a long history with horses since it was introduced into North America by Hernán Cortés in 1519. This range from the native Americans who immediately took to horse riding, as well as the cowboys who tamed the West on their trusted horses.

Wild Horses

Although there are nearly 80,000 "wild" horses living on public land across 10 western US states, these horses are not considered truly wild horses. They are rather feral horses, as they are descended from domesticated horses. The only truly wild horse lives on the steppe in Central Asia.

Horse Shows

Horse shows are competitions between riders and their horses in various disciplines. The horse is judged according to its movements, style of jumping, and general manners. The best horses can earn lots of prize money and will also be in demand for breeding.

Riding a Horse

Riding a horse can be quite an adrenaline rush. It also gives the rider as well as the horse a very good workout. It can take years to become a really good rider, depending on how often you ride. It is best to get a mentor to teach you the basics of riding.

Ponies

Ponies are small members of the horse family, standing less than 4 feet tall. They can easily be mistaken for just small horses, but ponies have their own characteristics and temperament. Ponies are also usually stockier than regular horses, with shorter legs and heavier bodies.

Famous Horses

One of the famous horses in history was George Washington's horse that he rode most during the Civil War. It was important to have a horse that was not too skittish during a battle with cannon balls falling around you. George Washington was a very good horseman, having perfected his skill as a planter and a military man.

Horses as Characters in Books

Anna Sewel wrote a beautiful book, which is actually an autobiography of a horse. The horse itself is the narrator of the story. It tells the story of how a well-bred horse is progressively sold to crueler masters. The horse makes all sorts of observations leading the reader to understand human nature better.

Mythical Horses

Horses were revered in ancient Greek and were seen as symbols of wealth, status, and power. They also feature prominently in Greek mythology, with the goddess Athena who showed mankind how to tame a horse.

Triple Crown

The Triple Crown is the name given to three races for three-year-olds on the American calendar, the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes. Only 13 horses have ever won the Triple Crown. In 1973 an outstanding horse won this crown in a record-breaking time for all three races.

High Jumping Horses

Jumping a horse is part of quite a few other equestrian events, for instance, eventing and dressage. Horses are trained for quite a few years before they can really jump very high, as this is quite a technical sport. The highest jump ever was recorded in Chile in 1949, with a jump of 8ft 1in. This record still stands today.

Expensive Horses

Thoroughbreds are the most expensive horses. These horses are mostly used in racing. The most expensive ever was Fusaichi Pegasus. He won $2million racing before his fifth birthday. He was then sold with the expectation that his offspring would produce winners.

Horse Color

Horses can vary in color from pure white to black, with all shades in between. Some of these colors are given specific names. Brown horses, for instance, can be either a bay or chestnut, while piebald horses have irregular patches of white and black.

Smallest Horses

Ponies and mini horses are adorable members of the horse family. They are small and have great personalities, making them the ideal pets, especially for families with young children.

About the Author

Retha Lombard

Retha is an editor for A-Z-Animals, with a special interest in marine and prehistoric life. Retha has been editing articles and researching about animals for 5 years now. She holds a Bachelor's (Honors in Zoology) degree from the Nelson Mandela University (South Africa), which she obtained in 1985. She also bred ornamental fish for 10 years quite successfully. When not busy on the site, Retha enjoys going to the beach with her grandchildren, and working and playing in the garden with her dogs.