Racetrack intuition would bet on “yes”, since we’ve been breeding racehorses to run longer and faster for centuries and one would assume that would naturally select for bigger pumps to power a horse to cross the line first.

When the draught horses that were the ancestors of today's Clydesdale were first bred centuries ago in Europe, farmers favoured horses with a lot of hair on their lower legs. It seemed this hair helped protect the horses legs from scratches and cuts as the animals worked in the field.

Cats are the ones who are supposed to be afraid of water, yet horses aren't far behind. Horses will stand quietly for a bath delivered by a garden hose, yet they will balk when asked to step into even the most innocuous puddle.

Do they ever! They seem to remember everything that happens to them. That's one reason they are so trainable. What you teach a horse today, they will remember tomorrow. The more you reinforce it, the more it will stay in their memory until finally, it will be ingrained for life.

Oddly, at least to nonhorse people, the size of a horse rests in the palm of the hand. You see, even in an age of laser accuracy where distances are measured with great precision, the standard measurement of a horse's height is still done in hands.

Watching two horses scratch each other's backs is a sweet experience, especially when you realise it's all part of the equine bonding experience.

Although the average horse lives to be approximately 20 years of age, we are starting to see many horses reaching 30 years of age and above. Older horses and ponies need a little extra TLC to ensure that they remain healthy and happy.