Did You Know That Horses Have Only One Finger?

Although we know what a horse looks like, not all of us realize that these quadrupeds only have one finger. In addition! It is no secret but it is certainly a detail that is easily ignored because we focus on the more generic aspects of the animal’s physical appearance.

The horse is one of the most beautiful animals that exists. Its elegance, its bearing and strength but at the same time the sensitivity that it gives off attracts us and draws our attention, captivating us with its presence. They say that the fingers serve to maintain the balance and stability that our body needs. Well, apparently, horses do not need them to maintain their elegance and good gait. 

Confirmed: horses have only one finger

At Harvard University they decided to conduct a study on it. After obtaining the results, they published their findings in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society. It appears that in the past, horses were the size of a dog with three toes on their front legs and four on their back. But, as a result of evolution, horses were developed to reach the size we know today.

However, this evolution brought with it other changes in its body such as its hooves. Gone are his four and three fingers to get to have only one. Any x-ray shows it clearly, horses have only one toe.

According to the study, two relevant things happened. On the one hand, as the size of the animal increased, it seemed easier to support the new weight with a more robust finger than the ones it had and that served as an axis.

It’s amazing to think that they are able to stand up, race, jump, ride rough roads, and even dance while holding all their weight on one finger. In fact, they are made in such a way that they can walk more than 100 miles in a single day. Amazing?

There are many questions that arise when we think that horses have only one toe. For example, when did it happen? When did evolution realize that one finger was better than several?

With new technologies of three-dimensional reconstruction some conclusions were reached. For example, in the first horses the “extra” fingers that they had then were very useful to carry out activities and survive in the places they inhabited.

However, later, as the horse increased body weight, the lateral toes began to disappear as the central toes strengthened to make up for their absence. Everything seemed millimetrically controlled. Product of evolution or of a creator? Everyone will have their opinion about it, what there is no doubt is the perfection of this animal and that horses have only one finger.

Other curiosities about horses

There are many other curiosities about horses that you will like to know and that you want to share with you. One more sample of how special this animal is.

If you don’t believe it, check this out and judge for yourself:

• Your teeth never stop growing. As you hear it, they are always growing. During all his life. Only when they reach adult size, growth slows down, but they keep getting bigger and bigger.
• They drink about 25 liters of water a day.
• Cave paintings of horses from 15,000 BC have been found .
• They cannot vomit.
• They don’t ask to burp.
• The Mongols were the first to domesticate them.

• They like sweet but not bitter.
• Their gestation lasts 11 months and they only have one calf.
• They cry if their partner dies.
• Your teeth are used to determine your age.
• They don’t like loneliness. They are sociable by nature.

Knowing more about horses brings us closer to them, and it is likely that from now on we will see them in a different way. A unique and incredible animal that we have loved to help you learn more.