_{“When a horse offers their face to you, they’re interested in what you are, what you’re doing. They’re paying attention.” Brady Jandreau, former rodeo rider}

It felt like time stopped for a few minutes today as we chatted to the horses in the woods. The morning was wet, and our coats damp with rain, but there was still time to swap news before we ambled on, each in our own direction.

So now, with this muzzle on my computer screen, I thought I’d look up some more about horses.

First thing to say is that as far as horse ownership goes the United States is the clear winner. According to the World Population Review they have over 10.5 million horses. Next comes Mexico with over 6.5 million, and then, not that far behind, Brazil and behind that Mongolia, which apparently has more horses than people.

The most expensive horse ever sold – a title that still stands as far as I can make out – was a racehorse called Fusachi Pegasus who went for $72 million in the year 2000, the year the horse became the first favourite to win the Kentucky Derby since 1979.

The tallest horse in the world, measured in 2010, was Big Jake, a Belgian Draft horse who lived on a farm in Wisconsin, America. He was 20 hands 2.75 inches or 210.19cm to his withers – head held high he was taller still. Big Jake died at the end of June 2021.

The biggest, and heaviest horse ever, was a Shire Horse called Sampson (born in 1846) who was said to be 21 hands and 2.5 inches high, and weighed 3,360lb or 1,524kg (860lbs more than Big Jake).

And finally, if you have the time and love horses, here’s a link that will tell you more about twelve that are amongst the best known. I’d never heard of Sergeant Reckless. I’m glad I have now.

PS: I have received a note from the World Animal Foundation to say that according to their latest statistics there are 10.31 million horses in the United States of America.

Copyright Georgie Knaggs & The Phraser 2023