Horses & Ponies Quiz

1. What is the key difference between a horse and a pony?

1. Ponies are baby horses
2. Ponies are female; horses can be male or female
3. Ponies are generally under 14.2 hands high; horses are taller
4. Ponies are wild; horses are domesticated

2. How is a horse's height measured?

1. In 'hands' (each hand = 4 inches/10 cm) measured to the withers (top of the shoulder)
2. In feet and inches from hoof to ground
3. In hands measured to the top of the head
4. In metres from hoof to ear

3. What is a female horse called?

1. A dam
2. A filly (all ages)
3. A jenny
4. A mare (adult, 4+ years) or filly (young, under 4)

4. How many gaits (ways of moving) does a horse have?

1. 2 (walk and gallop)
2. 3 (walk, trot, gallop)
3. 4 (walk, trot, canter, gallop)
4. 5 or more for some breeds

5. What is the world's smallest horse breed?

1. Falabella
2. Miniature horse
3. Shetland pony
4. Welsh Mountain pony

6. Horses are prey animals. How does this affect their eyesight?

1. Their eyes are on the sides of their head, giving almost 360° vision to spot predators — but a blind spot directly in front
2. They can see only in black and white
3. They have forward-facing eyes like predators, for better depth perception
4. They have poor eyesight and rely mainly on smell

7. What does it mean when a horse shows its teeth in a 'Flehmen response' (curling its upper lip up)?

1. It is angry and about to bite
2. It is detecting scents — trapping odours near a special olfactory organ in the roof of the mouth
3. It is showing submission to a dominant horse
4. It is yawning because it is tired

8. How long does a horse's pregnancy (gestation) last?

1. About 11 months
2. About 18 months
3. About 6 months
4. About 9 months

9. Which ancient breed of horse, only rediscovered in Mongolia, is considered the last truly wild horse?

1. Brumby
2. Camargue horse
3. Mustang
4. Przewalski's horse

10. What is the fastest speed a racehorse has ever been recorded running?

1. About 50 km/h
2. About 65 km/h
3. About 70 km/h
4. Over 88 km/h

11. What is a 'hand' in horse measurement, and approximately how tall is a 16-hand horse?

1. 1 hand = 10 cm; 16 hands = 160 cm
2. 1 hand = 3 inches; 16 hands = 122 cm
3. 1 hand = 4 inches; 16 hands = approximately 163 cm
4. 1 hand = 5 inches; 16 hands = approximately 203 cm

12. Which breed of horse is famous for its strength, feathered legs, and pulling heavy loads?

1. Arabian
2. Clydesdale
3. Lipizzaner
4. Thoroughbred

13. Horses sleep standing up. How is this possible?

1. A 'stay apparatus' in their legs allows joints to lock so they don't fall down while lightly sleeping
2. Special tendons in their legs contract when relaxed, holding them upright
3. Their legs have no knees to bend, making standing effortless
4. They cannot actually sleep standing up — they only nap standing

14. What is the Arabian horse breed known for, besides racing?

1. Being bred specifically for cold mountain terrain
2. Being the heaviest horse breed
3. Being the world's tallest horse breed
4. Its distinctive dished face, high tail carriage, and extraordinary endurance — it has extra large nostrils, lungs, and heart

15. What is a 'farrier' and why is their job important to horses?

1. A person who breeds horses professionally
2. A person who shoes horses — trimming and balancing the hooves and fitting metal horseshoes
3. A trainer who works with young horses
4. A vet who specialises in horses

16. Horses communicate with each other using body language. What does a horse with ears flat back against its head usually indicate?

1. It is angry, aggressive, or warning something to back off
2. It is concentrating intensely on something ahead
3. It is relaxed and content
4. It is tired and wants to rest

17. The Shetland pony comes from the Shetland Islands of Scotland. Why are Shetlands so small yet so strong?

1. Centuries of harsh island conditions (poor grazing, cold climate) naturally selected for compact, efficient bodies with high strength-to-size ratio
2. They are a cross between a horse and a donkey
3. They are kept small by special feeding practices
4. They were deliberately bred small for children to ride

18. What is a 'colic' in horses and why is it so dangerous?

1. A hoof disease caused by walking on hard surfaces
2. A respiratory infection common in young horses
3. A skin condition caused by parasites
4. Severe abdominal pain caused by digestive problems — dangerous because horses cannot vomit to relieve gut blockages

19. The Lipizzaner is famous for 'airs above the ground' movements. Where are these horses trained?

1. The Cavalry School in Madrid, Spain
2. The Horse Guards Parade in London
3. The Royal Stables, Windsor Castle
4. The Spanish Riding School in Vienna, Austria

20. How do you estimate a horse's age when you don't have its birth records?

1. By counting growth rings on its hooves like tree rings
2. By examining its teeth — the angle, length, and wear pattern change predictably with age
3. By looking at the colour of its hooves
4. By measuring the length of its tail