37 Horse Quotes & Sayings Inspiring Freedom and Companionship
Horses are mighty equines integral to our history for centuries, unlike their striped, undomesticated relative, the zebras. These one-hoofed creatures are herbivores with a lifespan of around 25-30 years and an average height of 14-18 hands (Yes, they are measured in hands!).
Throughout history, we have been grateful for their strength in partnering with us in transportation, agriculture, recreation, sport, and war. And because of their constant presence in our lives, we linked them with symbols such as power, wealth, prestige, and many more.
Get more insights from our collection of horse quotes below, summarizing everything we must know about these majestic equines.
Related: For more from the equine family, explore the different types of horses, our answer to that burning question, "do donkeys laugh?" and zebras feature in our list of animals that start with Z.
Quick links to our selection of horse quotes:
Best Horse Quotes
With the skyline filled with skyscrapers, it's unbelievable how horses shaped New York. Since they're the former yellow cabs of the city, we can see fountains scattered around the city and narrow streets designed for them.
Throughout American history, they were also part of ball shows, show jumping, rodeos, films, and many more. There's much to uncover about how these creatures weaved the country's identity today! For further reading, we recommend Sarah Maslin Nir's Horse Crazy: The Story of a Woman and a World in Love with an Animal (here on Amazon).
Unfortunately, horses have been victims of neglect, abuse, and exploitation. According to The Humane Society of the United States, horses, along with dogs, cats, and livestock, are one of the most commonly abused animals. Through increased public awareness and education, we can work together to reduce the number of horse abuse cases.
Let's ensure that the amazing horses we share our planet with are treated with love and respect by reading first how other people appreciate them through the horse quotes below.
Inspirational Horse Quotes About Courage And Gracefulness
Horses are built with powerful hindquarters and a long, curved neck that helps them reach speeds up to 44 miles per hour. At the same time, their graceful and elegant gait is both mesmerizing and impressive.
Like how we run, walk, or skip, horses also have different ways of moving their legs. They have four natural gaits - walk, trot, canter, and gallop. While rack, running walk, slow gait, and pace are artificial gaits that benefit not only the horse but also the riders. If you want to know more, you will learn from plenty of online content by horse lovers worldwide.
Listen to these creatures' rhythmic beats as you read the following horse quotes below.
Horse Quotes About The Creatures' Connection With Humans
Horses are social animals that need companionship to thrive. In the wild, horses form social bonds with other horses, relying on each other for protection and companionship. When confined, we can observe behavioral issues such as aggression, chewing, head shaking, foal rejection, and many more.
Humans should offer the companionship captive horses need by giving them time to run and engage in stimulating activities to avoid these issues. On a deeper level, horses and humans can bond like with dogs and cats. A 2019 study proved how the equines could recognize facial reactions and voices that match1. And if they don't, it takes the horses more time to respond.
We have formed deep connections with horses, recognizing their intelligence and loyalty. To this day, many people have a special bond with their horses that goes beyond just riding or training them. Observe this connection as you read the horse quotes below.
I'd rather ride on a Mustang, than in one.
~ BaileyAnn Neal
Quotes About Horse and Their Role In History
More than any other animal, horses have made the most significant impact in human history. From the prey and predator, livestock and prey relationship 6,000 years ago, it developed into a true partnership.
Thanks to their powerful legs, we traveled faster, as did worldwide migration, trade, and cultural exchange. They even helped build the foundation of the greatest empires by Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, and Attila the Hun.
Alexander and his horse, Bucephalus, have a legendary story. The young conqueror has tamed the once untamed beast and formed a formidable bond that lasted to death. Undoubtedly, we are where we are today, at least in some measure, because of the horse.
Continue admiring the domesticated but respectable equines, whether a horse owner or simply curious, as you read the next set of horse quotes.
Noteworthy Horse Quotes In Art And Literature
Horses' presence is evident in history books, folklore, mythologies, and even superstitions. For example, Mars, the god of war, is associated with horses in Roman mythology. Meanwhile, Greek mythology has Pegasus, the immortal horse born from the blood of Medusa. In the eastern hemisphere, as the sixth animal of the Chinese Zodiac, horses represent energetic and high-spirited people.
A white horse signifies heroism, while a dark horse means the underdogs. Horses have been an integral part of our lives for thousands of years and are a source of fascination and wonder.
Read more about these exceptional colts from the minds of authors and poets in the last set of horse quotes below.
A few more quotes and sayings about horses
The air of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears.
~ Arabian Proverb
Stay away from a horse long enough and you'll start tapping your fingers to the beat of a trot.
~ Unknown
No philosophers so thoroughly comprehend us as dogs and horses.
~ Herman Melville
God forbid that I should go to any heaven in which there are no horses.
~ R.B. Cunningham Graham
No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle.
~ Winston Churchill
I've had enough. I'm going horseback riding.
~ Unknown
1 | Trรถsch M, Cuzol F, Parias C, Calandreau L, Nowak R, Lansade L. Horses Categorize Human Emotions Cross-Modally Based on Facial Expression and Non-Verbal Vocalizations. Animals (Basel). 2019 Oct 24;9(11):862. doi: 10.3390/ani9110862. |