1 00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:23,685 Jane: This is But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids from Vermont 2 00:00:23,685 --> 00:00:27,165 Public. I'm Jane Lindholm. On this show, we take questions 3 00:00:27,165 --> 00:00:30,345 from kids all over who are curious about the world around 4 00:00:30,345 --> 00:00:34,005 them, like you are, and it's our job to find interesting people 5 00:00:34,005 --> 00:00:41,805 who can offer answers. You've been sending us questions about 6 00:00:41,805 --> 00:00:45,705 horses for years, so we thought it was high time to do an 7 00:00:45,705 --> 00:00:49,830 episode all about them. When we were in Iceland a few months 8 00:00:49,830 --> 00:00:53,370 ago, we visited a school for kids and sometimes adults, who 9 00:00:53,370 --> 00:00:57,390 want to learn how to care for and ride horses. Sometimes they 10 00:00:57,390 --> 00:01:00,990 even do horseback riding competitions. The woman who owns 11 00:01:00,990 --> 00:01:04,410 the school and cares for all of the horses there is named Sonja 12 00:01:04,410 --> 00:01:07,950 Noack. She invited us to meet a few of her horses and learn 13 00:01:07,950 --> 00:01:12,435 more. And I love the name of her school, Hestasnilld. It's a 14 00:01:12,435 --> 00:01:16,995 combination of two Icelandic words, hesta, horse, and nild, 15 00:01:17,175 --> 00:01:21,975 genius. So her school's name, Hestasnilld, is basically horse 16 00:01:21,975 --> 00:01:22,635 genius! 17 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:26,620 Sonja Noack: We have here, Twister, my horse, my pace 18 00:01:26,620 --> 00:01:33,580 horse. He is looking at us and Skiði and Kulu, three of of my 19 00:01:33,580 --> 00:01:34,180 horses. 20 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:39,100 Jane: So Kulu is a beautiful gray horse. Describe that 21 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:40,480 beautiful color. 22 00:01:40,720 --> 00:01:44,440 Sonja Noack: He's blue dun, actually, and he has a little 23 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:50,320 star. The dun horses, they have this black... 24 00:01:50,380 --> 00:01:52,720 Jane: Like a black line almost on his spine. 25 00:01:53,140 --> 00:01:54,400 Sonja Noack: Down the spine, exactly. 26 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:58,000 Jane: And his mane is two different colors too. It's kind 27 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:01,960 of almost a dark brown or black and then an almost white color. 28 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:05,905 Sonja Noack: Yeah, it's under it's dark, and upper is light, 29 00:02:05,905 --> 00:02:10,465 and they are actually just like, it's not from the sun. It's just 30 00:02:10,585 --> 00:02:14,485 happened to be like this in that kind of color when they are blue 31 00:02:14,485 --> 00:02:14,905 dun. 32 00:02:15,625 --> 00:02:18,685 Jane: He seems kind of quiet and shy, but your white horse over 33 00:02:18,685 --> 00:02:21,145 here seems to want some attention, and he's got a 34 00:02:21,145 --> 00:02:24,505 beautiful set of bangs that he keeps throwing his head back to 35 00:02:24,505 --> 00:02:26,725 show us. Do they have different personalities? 36 00:02:26,900 --> 00:02:29,720 Sonja Noack: Oh yes, they are very different. And also, like, 37 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:32,240 Kulu has been working this morning, and he's chilling a 38 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:35,240 little bit. We have been riding two hours this morning with the 39 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:40,160 kids and Skiði, he hasn't been working today, and he's just 40 00:02:40,160 --> 00:02:43,820 waiting for his time today to do something fun. 41 00:02:43,820 --> 00:02:45,500 Jane: And what's Twister thinking? 42 00:02:45,860 --> 00:02:48,980 Sonja Noack: Twister probably just wants to say hello and get 43 00:02:48,980 --> 00:02:49,177 some cuddles from you. He loves attention. 44 00:02:49,177 --> 00:02:53,285 Jane: Twister, do you want to say hello to the microphone? 45 00:02:56,825 --> 00:02:59,765 It's not food. Twister would like to eat my sweater and the 46 00:02:59,765 --> 00:03:00,425 microphone. 47 00:03:00,725 --> 00:03:01,625 Sonja Noack: He loves food. 48 00:03:03,665 --> 00:03:06,785 Jane: We have a lot of horse questions, and since we're here 49 00:03:06,785 --> 00:03:09,245 in Iceland, let's start with Poppy's question. 50 00:03:09,485 --> 00:03:12,305 Poppy: My name is Poppy, and I'm from London, Vermont, and I'm 11 51 00:03:12,305 --> 00:03:14,930 years old, I would like to know more about the history of the 52 00:03:14,930 --> 00:03:16,190 Icelandic horses. 53 00:03:16,310 --> 00:03:18,050 Jane: Are Icelandic horses special? 54 00:03:18,530 --> 00:03:21,170 Sonja Noack: Oh yes, they are. They're very special. They are, 55 00:03:21,410 --> 00:03:25,010 actually, very, very, very long time ago, they came here with 56 00:03:25,010 --> 00:03:29,810 boats, with the Vikings, mostly from Norway, but not only, but 57 00:03:29,810 --> 00:03:35,735 mostly. And what makes it very special now it's that the 58 00:03:35,735 --> 00:03:42,875 Icelandic horse has been bred pure over 1000 years, and that 59 00:03:42,875 --> 00:03:46,115 means too, which is sometimes a little bit sad, but all 60 00:03:46,115 --> 00:03:49,955 Icelandic horses that leave Iceland, they may never come 61 00:03:49,955 --> 00:03:54,695 back. So it's very pure breed, and probably the purest breed in 62 00:03:54,695 --> 00:03:55,355 the world, 63 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:57,940 Jane: Because it hasn't been cross bred with other horse 64 00:03:57,940 --> 00:04:02,200 breeds, because other horses aren't allowed in Iceland, and 65 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:05,860 so these horses are all descended from those horses that 66 00:04:05,860 --> 00:04:07,240 came across with the Vikings. 67 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:08,860 Sonja Noack: Exactly, exactly. 68 00:04:09,020 --> 00:04:11,300 Jane: Since it's an island in the middle of the Atlantic 69 00:04:11,300 --> 00:04:15,140 Ocean, Iceland can keep some pretty strict controls about 70 00:04:15,140 --> 00:04:19,160 what comes in and what goes out of its country. And Iceland has 71 00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:23,060 decided that the Icelandic horse is a breed they want to protect 72 00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:27,080 and control. The country allows horses to leave Iceland, so you 73 00:04:27,080 --> 00:04:30,140 can find them in lots of other countries, but you won't find 74 00:04:30,140 --> 00:04:33,965 any other kinds of horses in Iceland, which means these 75 00:04:33,965 --> 00:04:37,325 horses are pretty similar to the ones brought to Iceland by 76 00:04:37,325 --> 00:04:42,065 Viking explorers and settlers over 1000 years ago. Icelandic 77 00:04:42,065 --> 00:04:45,005 horses are known for being on the small side, but most 78 00:04:45,005 --> 00:04:47,345 Icelandic people would be annoyed if you called them 79 00:04:47,345 --> 00:04:48,065 ponies. 80 00:04:48,125 --> 00:04:51,425 Sonja Noack: They are having a lot of fur and a long mane, and 81 00:04:51,665 --> 00:04:56,750 most of them thick mane and tail, which makes them extremely 82 00:04:56,750 --> 00:05:01,490 beautiful, of course. And they are very... so many different 83 00:05:01,490 --> 00:05:04,130 colors, which is also special for the Icelandic horse. 84 00:05:04,130 --> 00:05:08,090 Jane: So horses in Iceland need to be able to withstand some 85 00:05:08,090 --> 00:05:12,410 pretty harsh weather. How do these horses make it through 86 00:05:12,470 --> 00:05:16,070 really cold winters and oftentimes a lot of wind and 87 00:05:16,070 --> 00:05:17,030 snow and rain? 88 00:05:17,735 --> 00:05:21,455 Sonja Noack: They have very, very good and long fur, and they 89 00:05:21,455 --> 00:05:25,775 are built like... they are not like very long leg most of them. 90 00:05:25,775 --> 00:05:29,795 They are like, a little bit, you know, strongly built. And they 91 00:05:29,795 --> 00:05:33,095 just eat a lot. Especially the ones that are just outside, they 92 00:05:33,095 --> 00:05:36,515 have to eat a lot, specially in the fall, to get fat and 93 00:05:36,515 --> 00:05:42,740 everything, and which helps the skin to take care when rain is 94 00:05:42,740 --> 00:05:46,160 coming and snow and wind, because then it will peel away 95 00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:49,940 the cold and the wind and the snow, and then we, of course, 96 00:05:49,940 --> 00:05:53,300 give them... We are feeding them outside. They are not they're 97 00:05:53,300 --> 00:05:57,440 maybe very, very big fields, but we are giving them hay as snow, 98 00:05:57,440 --> 00:06:00,080 as soon as the snow is there and they can't get the grass 99 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:00,500 anymore. 100 00:06:00,740 --> 00:06:03,380 Jane: you'd probably want a long mane and thick fur if you were 101 00:06:03,380 --> 00:06:06,005 going to spend the winter outside in the wind and snow of 102 00:06:06,005 --> 00:06:09,665 Iceland, too. Icelandic horses are also known for having a 103 00:06:09,665 --> 00:06:13,385 special way of running. You may have heard of a walk, a trot, a 104 00:06:13,385 --> 00:06:16,985 canter and a gallop, but Icelandic horses can do two 105 00:06:16,985 --> 00:06:20,525 other styles. We'll have Sonja saddle up and ride one of her 106 00:06:20,525 --> 00:06:24,125 horses a little later on, so you can hear what we mean. But 107 00:06:24,125 --> 00:06:26,405 first, let's get to some of your other questions. 108 00:06:26,585 --> 00:06:28,850 Parker: I'm Parker. I'm seven years old. I live in 109 00:06:28,850 --> 00:06:31,610 Pennsylvania. Why are horses so big? 110 00:06:31,730 --> 00:06:33,170 Jane: Why are horses so big? 111 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:37,080 Sonja Noack: Yeah, they were not so big for a million years ago 112 00:06:37,080 --> 00:06:40,560 or something. They were like small as a dog, and then they 113 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:44,100 have been getting bigger because it's easier to run away from the 114 00:06:44,100 --> 00:06:47,280 predators. And it's also about, you know, then they are a little 115 00:06:47,280 --> 00:06:50,460 bit higher up, so they see better when there's coming 116 00:06:50,460 --> 00:06:54,000 something, something dangerous. But of course, it's very 117 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:57,225 different. We have, like, really, really small ponies, 118 00:06:57,285 --> 00:07:01,425 Falabella pony in the world. They are, like, so small as a 119 00:07:01,425 --> 00:07:04,485 dog still. So it's very different. They can be from dog 120 00:07:04,485 --> 00:07:06,285 size up to very big. 121 00:07:06,525 --> 00:07:09,825 Jane: As Sonja said, when the ancestors of horses first 122 00:07:09,825 --> 00:07:13,785 started appearing, actually more like 56 million years ago, they 123 00:07:13,785 --> 00:07:17,805 were quite small. But over time, they've gotten much bigger and 124 00:07:17,805 --> 00:07:22,350 taller. Modern horses have so much variety because humans got 125 00:07:22,350 --> 00:07:25,590 involved in breeding them and selecting horses for different 126 00:07:25,650 --> 00:07:29,250 characteristics, like being really fast or being able to 127 00:07:29,250 --> 00:07:33,450 pull a heavy load or being tall. So that's why there are so many 128 00:07:33,450 --> 00:07:36,390 different types and sizes of horse bodies today. 129 00:07:36,450 --> 00:07:40,470 Henry: My name is Henry. I'm five years old. I live in 130 00:07:40,470 --> 00:07:44,175 Kokomo, Indiana. Why do horses have a tail? 131 00:07:44,175 --> 00:07:48,915 Riggs: My name's Riggs, I'm five years old, and I live in 132 00:07:48,975 --> 00:07:52,815 Lincoln, California. Why do horses have tails? 133 00:07:52,815 --> 00:07:55,935 Jane: Henry wants to know why do horses have tails? And so does 134 00:07:55,935 --> 00:07:56,475 Riggs. 135 00:07:56,655 --> 00:07:59,835 Sonja Noack: Yeah, the tail is actually, it's very important 136 00:07:59,835 --> 00:08:04,395 for the horse to to push away the flies, mostly. It's, and 137 00:08:04,395 --> 00:08:08,340 also, of course, it's a protective for their butt and 138 00:08:08,340 --> 00:08:12,840 the main it's also from for the rain. And also, when horses bite 139 00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:16,500 each other, it is giving kind of protection with the neck. 140 00:08:16,620 --> 00:08:19,980 Omer: My name is Omer, and I live in Princeton, New Jersey, 141 00:08:20,160 --> 00:08:24,480 and I'm six years old. Why do horses have hairs on their back? 142 00:08:24,540 --> 00:08:26,760 Jane: Why do they have hairs on their back? What's the deal with 143 00:08:26,760 --> 00:08:27,120 the mane? 144 00:08:27,480 --> 00:08:30,705 Sonja Noack: Yeah, the mane is like protective and also on the 145 00:08:30,705 --> 00:08:33,945 back, the hair, the hair everywhere. Of course, they are 146 00:08:34,005 --> 00:08:38,385 mammals, and they need, they have the hair to protect their 147 00:08:38,385 --> 00:08:42,105 skin, and especially the Icelandic horse, which is a lot 148 00:08:42,345 --> 00:08:46,125 outside, and when it's cold, it's just protective against the 149 00:08:46,125 --> 00:08:50,085 weather. It's very, very long in the winter, and thick and and 150 00:08:50,085 --> 00:08:54,030 then when they change their fur, you know, then it's a lot of 151 00:08:54,030 --> 00:08:55,170 hair everywhere. 152 00:08:56,130 --> 00:08:57,090 Jane: They shed like a dog. 153 00:08:57,000 --> 00:09:02,220 Sonja Noack: Yes, more.You could probably to pillow out of it. 154 00:09:02,220 --> 00:09:03,780 Jane: That would be quite a pillow. 155 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:04,140 Sonja Noack: Yeah, it would be quite a pillow. 156 00:09:04,140 --> 00:09:12,720 June: My name is June. I'mthree years old. How does horses' legs 157 00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:13,200 move? 158 00:09:13,780 --> 00:09:17,320 Jane: Horses have really interesting legs. The part you 159 00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:20,560 might think looks like their knee bends in different 160 00:09:20,560 --> 00:09:23,380 directions, depending on whether you're looking at the front legs 161 00:09:23,380 --> 00:09:27,580 or the back legs. The front legs bend out towards the front and 162 00:09:27,580 --> 00:09:31,660 the back legs bend back behind the horse. But here's something 163 00:09:31,660 --> 00:09:35,920 you might not know. Those aren't their knees. Their knees are 164 00:09:35,920 --> 00:09:38,965 actually much higher up in their body, so you can't really see 165 00:09:38,965 --> 00:09:41,305 them unless you have X-ray vision, and can look at the 166 00:09:41,305 --> 00:09:45,205 horse's skeleton. The part you see bending when they run is 167 00:09:45,205 --> 00:09:48,565 more like an ankle joint, and horses actually walk on their 168 00:09:48,565 --> 00:09:49,225 toes. 169 00:09:49,360 --> 00:09:52,960 Olivia: My name is Olivia, and I'm four years old. I'm fron 170 00:09:52,960 --> 00:09:56,320 Clayton, Indiana. Why does horses have hooves? 171 00:09:56,320 --> 00:10:01,900 Bonnie: My name is Bonnie. I am 6 years old. I live in Eugene, 172 00:10:01,900 --> 00:10:04,120 Oregon. Why do horses have hooves? 173 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:11,860 Chloe: My name is Chloe. I live in Thailand. I am six and a half 174 00:10:11,980 --> 00:10:15,460 years old. I do horses have hooves and we don't? 175 00:10:15,460 --> 00:10:23,905 Sasha: My name is Sasha. I live in Tahoma, California. I'm four 176 00:10:24,025 --> 00:10:30,325 years old. Why are horse hooves flat, not round? 177 00:10:30,685 --> 00:10:34,285 Audrey: My name is Audrey. I'm five years old. Are horses 178 00:10:34,285 --> 00:10:36,130 hooves bones or not? 179 00:10:36,130 --> 00:10:41,950 Jojo: My name is Jojo. I live in Webster, New York. Why do horses 180 00:10:41,950 --> 00:10:42,910 wear shoes? 181 00:10:43,380 --> 00:10:46,440 Jane: Let's talk about hooves, that very bottom part of a 182 00:10:46,440 --> 00:10:49,980 horse's leg. The hoof has several parts, including some 183 00:10:49,980 --> 00:10:53,640 internal bones, tendons and ligaments, some cushiony bits 184 00:10:53,640 --> 00:10:56,880 that act like a shock absorber, and a hard part around the 185 00:10:56,880 --> 00:11:00,720 outside made of keratin. That's the same stuff your fingernails 186 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:04,980 and toenails are made out of. Keratin is also what horns are. 187 00:11:05,865 --> 00:11:09,285 When it's thick, like a horse's hoof, keratin is very tough 188 00:11:09,285 --> 00:11:13,305 stuff. That outer wall, that part that's kind of like a big, 189 00:11:13,305 --> 00:11:17,805 thick toenail on the horse is constantly growing. If a horse 190 00:11:17,805 --> 00:11:20,205 is running around on rough ground, all that rubbing and 191 00:11:20,205 --> 00:11:23,985 scuffing can keep the hoof filed down. But a lot of horses need 192 00:11:23,985 --> 00:11:27,825 to have their hooves filed down by people, and many horses wear 193 00:11:27,825 --> 00:11:30,585 horse shoes. They look pretty different than our sneakers, 194 00:11:30,630 --> 00:11:34,530 though. Their shoes are metal and just go right around that 195 00:11:34,530 --> 00:11:38,610 hard outer wall of the hoof. They help protect the horse's 196 00:11:38,610 --> 00:11:42,090 foot, especially on pavement or other surfaces that would wear 197 00:11:42,090 --> 00:11:43,470 those hooves down pretty quickly. 198 00:11:43,539 --> 00:11:47,499 Audrey: Hi, my name is Audrey. I live in California. What do 199 00:11:47,499 --> 00:11:48,459 horses eat? 200 00:11:48,900 --> 00:11:51,960 Jane: Audrey wants to know just generally, what do horses eat? 201 00:11:52,380 --> 00:11:53,700 Other than my microphone. 202 00:11:54,260 --> 00:11:57,320 Sonja Noack: They eat mostly grass and hay, which is, of 203 00:11:57,320 --> 00:12:02,240 course, dried grass. That's what they eat mostly, and we always 204 00:12:02,240 --> 00:12:08,300 try to, at least, I give my horses always also vitamins, and 205 00:12:08,300 --> 00:12:15,260 some of them get, like, also kind of extra food out of corn 206 00:12:15,380 --> 00:12:19,265 or something. Depends a lot on the horse. What they need, if 207 00:12:19,265 --> 00:12:22,205 they need extra food, but what they eat mostly is grass. 208 00:12:22,265 --> 00:12:25,565 Henry: Hi. I'm Henry. I live in Alberta, Canada. I'm six years 209 00:12:25,565 --> 00:12:28,865 old. Why can horses eat grass when it can't hurt our stomachs? 210 00:12:28,939 --> 00:12:33,439 Jane: Why can horses eat grass and hay when that would hurt our 211 00:12:33,439 --> 00:12:34,279 stomachs? 212 00:12:35,179 --> 00:12:38,179 Sonja Noack: They have just a totally different digestive 213 00:12:38,179 --> 00:12:42,819 system than us, and also, they get a lot of energy, for 214 00:12:42,819 --> 00:12:47,559 example, out of the grass, as we wouldn't, not at all. And, yeah, 215 00:12:47,619 --> 00:12:51,279 we can't digest the grass with our stomach. 216 00:12:51,540 --> 00:12:55,740 Elina: My name's Elina. I'm nine years old. I live in Barry in 217 00:12:55,740 --> 00:12:58,500 Wales. Can horses taste sweet and sour? 218 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:02,280 Sonja Noack: Yes, they can. And they love sweet, actually. And 219 00:13:02,280 --> 00:13:06,300 they also can taste like bitter, and salt. And bitter, for 220 00:13:06,300 --> 00:13:10,740 example, is very interesting. It can be, you know, they will feel 221 00:13:10,740 --> 00:13:14,400 it when there is something poisoned, like poisoned plants, 222 00:13:14,580 --> 00:13:18,345 they are bitter. So they won't, won't eat it, but they love 223 00:13:18,405 --> 00:13:18,765 sweet. 224 00:13:19,725 --> 00:13:23,505 Ronan: Hi, I'm Ronan. I live in Charleston, South Carolina. I'm 225 00:13:23,505 --> 00:13:26,265 nine years old. Why do horses sleep standing up? 226 00:13:26,445 --> 00:13:29,505 Jane: Horses can sleep standing up because their bodies are 227 00:13:29,505 --> 00:13:33,165 designed to allow them to do it. Unlike ours! We'd most likely 228 00:13:33,165 --> 00:13:36,945 collapse if we fell asleep standing. But horses can lock 229 00:13:36,945 --> 00:13:40,290 their legs to help keep their body in place. And have you ever 230 00:13:40,290 --> 00:13:43,770 seen a horse standing tall on three legs while its fourth leg 231 00:13:43,770 --> 00:13:47,730 is bent and not taking any weight? As a horse naps, it 232 00:13:47,730 --> 00:13:51,210 rotates which leg is getting a break, so by the time it wakes 233 00:13:51,210 --> 00:13:54,690 up, all of its legs have gotten some time off. But there's 234 00:13:54,690 --> 00:13:56,850 another reason horses sleep standing up. 235 00:13:57,030 --> 00:13:58,890 Sonja Noack: It's also very important for them that they 236 00:13:58,890 --> 00:14:03,435 could run away very fast when some predator would come. And so 237 00:14:03,435 --> 00:14:06,975 it's just about their nature that they could run away. But 238 00:14:06,975 --> 00:14:11,475 when they really want to sleep and get REM sleep, they need to 239 00:14:11,475 --> 00:14:15,075 lay down for that, and that's mostly for a short time. And 240 00:14:15,075 --> 00:14:19,095 when they are in a herd outside, normally you see always one or 241 00:14:19,095 --> 00:14:23,775 two standing at least, which are taking care if everything is 242 00:14:23,955 --> 00:14:25,920 fine for the others to sleep. 243 00:14:26,220 --> 00:14:29,520 Jane: And I think if anybody's seen a horse lying down and 244 00:14:29,520 --> 00:14:32,760 watched it try to get up, you can see how that would take a 245 00:14:32,760 --> 00:14:36,780 long time. If something that really wanted to eat you was 246 00:14:36,780 --> 00:14:39,780 chasing you, it might put you in a very vulnerable position. 247 00:14:39,780 --> 00:14:41,220 Sonja Noack: Yes, 100%. 248 00:14:41,700 --> 00:14:46,500 Lucy: My name is Lucy. I live in Canada. Why do horses breathe 249 00:14:46,500 --> 00:14:47,340 through their mouth? 250 00:14:47,745 --> 00:14:49,785 Jane: Why do horses breathe through their mouths? 251 00:14:50,625 --> 00:14:54,165 Sonja Noack: They don't, actually, they can't. They 252 00:14:54,165 --> 00:14:58,065 breathe through their nose. They, they have very strong 253 00:14:58,305 --> 00:15:02,385 nostrils, and they can open it quite much up. They maybe would 254 00:15:02,445 --> 00:15:06,285 open the mouth and but it's not really the way for the air 255 00:15:06,285 --> 00:15:08,145 through the mouth. It's just for the food. 256 00:15:08,565 --> 00:15:11,250 Jane: Phew, that was a lot of questions about horses, and we 257 00:15:11,250 --> 00:15:14,610 haven't even talked much about how they move. So get a drink of 258 00:15:14,610 --> 00:15:19,470 water, let those wiggles out and get ready for even more horse 259 00:15:19,470 --> 00:15:20,130 stuff. 260 00:15:21,560 --> 00:15:24,980 This is But Why. Today we're learning all about horses from 261 00:15:24,980 --> 00:15:29,180 Sonja Noack, a riding instructor and all around lover of horses. 262 00:15:29,540 --> 00:15:33,080 Sonja runs a riding school in Mosfellsbær just outside of 263 00:15:33,080 --> 00:15:36,920 Reykjavik in Iceland. We talked with her in one of her barns, 264 00:15:36,920 --> 00:15:40,520 where three of her Icelandic horses calmly watched as she 265 00:15:40,520 --> 00:15:42,800 answered all of your horsey questions. 266 00:15:43,020 --> 00:15:47,940 Felix: My name is Felix. I'm five years old. I am in 267 00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:51,900 Amherstburg, Ontario. Why do horses gallop? 268 00:15:51,960 --> 00:15:56,760 Parker: My name is Parker, and my age is three, and I live in 269 00:15:56,760 --> 00:15:59,820 Wisconsin, Madison. How do horses gallop? 270 00:15:59,820 --> 00:16:01,920 Jane: How and why do horses gallop? 271 00:16:02,820 --> 00:16:05,700 Sonja Noack: It's just their way of running, and it's the way of 272 00:16:05,760 --> 00:16:09,885 they gallop that they can run away and run away fast, mostly 273 00:16:10,245 --> 00:16:14,745 out, also to run away from the predators. But also because they 274 00:16:14,985 --> 00:16:19,545 sometimes like to play and run around and have fun, like we 275 00:16:19,545 --> 00:16:22,005 sometimes like to run around and have fun. 276 00:16:22,159 --> 00:16:27,499 Goldie: My name is Marigold, but they call me Goldie. I'm four 277 00:16:27,499 --> 00:16:33,139 years old. I live in Oakland, California. I would like to know 278 00:16:33,139 --> 00:16:35,299 how horses jump so high. 279 00:16:35,659 --> 00:16:39,139 Sonja Noack: They have very strong muscles and very powerful 280 00:16:39,139 --> 00:16:45,219 hind leg which will help them, and then they will just give in 281 00:16:45,219 --> 00:16:45,999 and jump high. 282 00:16:46,360 --> 00:16:48,880 Jane: Do horses jump naturally? Or is it something they need to 283 00:16:48,880 --> 00:16:52,120 be taught when you're working with a horse that's going to be 284 00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:52,960 a jumping horse? 285 00:16:53,260 --> 00:16:56,680 Sonja Noack: Like with Icelandic horse, we don't jump much. We 286 00:16:56,740 --> 00:17:00,220 sometimes do it for fun, a little bit, but it's very 287 00:17:00,220 --> 00:17:02,980 different between different horses. You know, if they are 288 00:17:02,980 --> 00:17:05,500 outside in the field and there is something they have to go 289 00:17:05,500 --> 00:17:09,220 over, they would also jump over it. But they would probably 290 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:12,760 often choose the way beside. But it depends so much about 291 00:17:12,760 --> 00:17:16,060 different characters. Some of them just love it. They really 292 00:17:16,060 --> 00:17:19,885 like to go over. I have some horses too. When it is 293 00:17:19,885 --> 00:17:23,425 somewhere, some something to jump over, they like to go 294 00:17:23,425 --> 00:17:23,785 there. 295 00:17:23,960 --> 00:17:25,700 Jane: What about this guy? Does he like to jump? 296 00:17:25,880 --> 00:17:29,060 Sonja Noack: No, he is not so much of a jumper. He's more of a 297 00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:33,860 he likes pace and going fast in pace. He's not so much of a 298 00:17:33,860 --> 00:17:34,280 jumper. 299 00:17:34,700 --> 00:17:38,120 Sage: I'm Sage. I live in Colorado Springs. I'm 10 years 300 00:17:38,120 --> 00:17:39,680 old. Can horses swim? 301 00:17:39,960 --> 00:17:44,220 Sonja Noack: Yes, they can, and that also, it's very different. 302 00:17:44,220 --> 00:17:46,800 Some of them really love the weather, and others not. It's 303 00:17:46,800 --> 00:17:51,780 like with us, but we when it's summer and nice weather, we 304 00:17:51,780 --> 00:17:55,980 often go without saddle and swim with them. That's so fun. It's 305 00:17:55,980 --> 00:17:59,220 very, we were just like last weekend. We were swimming with 306 00:17:59,220 --> 00:18:02,820 them and the horses, most of them really love it, too, and 307 00:18:02,820 --> 00:18:06,585 it's actually very good for the joints. And some people even 308 00:18:06,585 --> 00:18:08,745 send horses to swim training. 309 00:18:08,745 --> 00:18:09,945 Jane: Wow, swim training. 310 00:18:09,945 --> 00:18:12,765 Sonja Noack: Yes, because it's also, you know, it's so light 311 00:18:12,765 --> 00:18:14,985 for the joints and ligaments. 312 00:18:15,045 --> 00:18:17,865 Jane: Yeah. So it's like, they get swimming lessons, but it's 313 00:18:17,865 --> 00:18:21,645 also kind of like physical therapy, or like, almost like a 314 00:18:21,645 --> 00:18:23,745 massage that can help the horses feel good. 315 00:18:23,985 --> 00:18:26,490 Sonja Noack: Yeah, yeah, 100%. And horses that have been 316 00:18:26,490 --> 00:18:29,130 injured, it can help them to get good again. 317 00:18:29,480 --> 00:18:33,200 Lucy: My name is Lucy, and I'm nine years old, and I live in 318 00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:37,700 Madison, Wisconsin. Why do horse trainers whip their horses and 319 00:18:37,700 --> 00:18:38,660 does it hurt them? 320 00:18:39,380 --> 00:18:43,100 Sonja Noack: You know, if you whip the horse like hardly it 321 00:18:43,100 --> 00:18:48,140 would probably hurt them and but normally when, for example, we 322 00:18:48,140 --> 00:18:51,440 use the whip, when I have a whip, it's more thought about 323 00:18:51,500 --> 00:18:56,060 being a longer hand. For me, it's a little bit getting me a 324 00:18:56,060 --> 00:18:59,540 longer hand that I can help the horse to understand what I want. 325 00:18:59,780 --> 00:19:03,485 And then I will just put it very slightly at the horse to help 326 00:19:03,485 --> 00:19:06,965 him to move and understand what I want, because maybe my foot 327 00:19:06,965 --> 00:19:10,985 isn't reaching his hindquarters. And when I want to help the 328 00:19:10,985 --> 00:19:15,485 horse with that, I can use the whip a little bit so we are not 329 00:19:15,725 --> 00:19:20,705 using it for slamming the horse or something. It's more like a 330 00:19:20,765 --> 00:19:21,725 longer hand. 331 00:19:22,205 --> 00:19:24,770 Jane: And also with your feet. Are you kicking them hard, and 332 00:19:24,770 --> 00:19:26,030 does it hurt when you kick? 333 00:19:26,540 --> 00:19:28,940 Sonja Noack: No, we are trying to get the horse, having the 334 00:19:28,940 --> 00:19:33,860 horse as sensitive as they can be with, like using a little, 335 00:19:34,400 --> 00:19:37,700 you know, pressure with the with the feet. I want my horse to 336 00:19:37,700 --> 00:19:40,880 answer when I put my feet at the belly slightly, they should 337 00:19:40,880 --> 00:19:44,660 answer to go forward, and the same when I take the rein to 338 00:19:44,660 --> 00:19:49,265 stop and trying to have it very lightly that they answer when 339 00:19:49,265 --> 00:19:53,945 they you know, when we are fast to answer them and let them be, 340 00:19:54,845 --> 00:19:59,165 let them be when they answered, then they are also light. So 341 00:19:59,165 --> 00:20:04,265 it's, it's so more fun to do it this way and be nice together. 342 00:20:04,745 --> 00:20:07,685 Jane: So you think of it as communication, nonverbal 343 00:20:07,685 --> 00:20:10,385 communication with the horse, where you're trying to tell the 344 00:20:10,385 --> 00:20:12,665 horse, here's what I'd like you to do, and then the horse is 345 00:20:12,710 --> 00:20:13,490 responding. 346 00:20:13,790 --> 00:20:17,330 Sonja Noack: Yes, exactly. It is just helping us to communicate 347 00:20:17,510 --> 00:20:21,890 exactly, and that, of course, always it's the goal for us to 348 00:20:22,250 --> 00:20:26,510 have and do as little as possible. And if you look at the 349 00:20:26,510 --> 00:20:29,630 rider and you don't see what the rider does, and the horse, too, 350 00:20:29,870 --> 00:20:33,650 does a lot of stuff. It is very nice, and that's always the 351 00:20:33,650 --> 00:20:34,010 goal. 352 00:20:34,610 --> 00:20:40,295 Emma: My name is Emma. I am seven and 11 months. I live in 353 00:20:40,295 --> 00:20:44,735 Madrid, Spain. Why are horses afraid of snakes? 354 00:20:44,920 --> 00:20:46,540 Jane: Are horses afraid of snakes? 355 00:20:46,540 --> 00:20:49,000 Sonja Noack: Yes, I would say they are because, of course, 356 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:51,580 they could be dangerous. They could bite them, and they 357 00:20:51,580 --> 00:20:54,580 actually don't like anything because of that around their 358 00:20:54,580 --> 00:20:59,620 feet, like when you walk with a horse with a with a reins, yeah, 359 00:20:59,620 --> 00:21:02,820 and it's yeah, a leash or something, and hanging down with 360 00:21:02,820 --> 00:21:06,120 the feet they, most of them, don't like it, and could get 361 00:21:06,120 --> 00:21:09,600 scared. So also, when you ride and you ride over something, 362 00:21:09,900 --> 00:21:13,080 they can get a little bit afraid, because their feet are 363 00:21:13,080 --> 00:21:16,440 so important to them. Because, of course, when the feet are 364 00:21:16,440 --> 00:21:20,360 hurt, they can't run. And if there would be a predator that 365 00:21:20,360 --> 00:21:23,600 want to eat them, which is, of course, not so much of a problem 366 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:27,620 anymore, but it's so deep in them that they are just trying 367 00:21:27,620 --> 00:21:29,180 to take care of their feet. 368 00:21:29,900 --> 00:21:32,900 Jane: And the way horses' eyes work too. They can't necessarily 369 00:21:32,900 --> 00:21:36,140 see their feet if they're looking up right? So they they 370 00:21:36,140 --> 00:21:38,480 want to make sure there's nothing down by their feet that 371 00:21:38,480 --> 00:21:41,000 they can't see that could trip them up, especially if they're 372 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:43,100 looking straight up or far ahead. 373 00:21:43,100 --> 00:21:45,920 Sonja Noack: Yeah, exactly. We have like blind points, like 374 00:21:45,920 --> 00:21:50,420 blind spots right in front of the horse, under the head and 375 00:21:50,420 --> 00:21:54,425 right in front of them, and also all in the back. They don't see 376 00:21:54,425 --> 00:21:57,905 at all when you are behind the horse. That's why you always 377 00:21:57,905 --> 00:22:00,545 should take care when you walk behind the horse, take a big 378 00:22:00,545 --> 00:22:04,565 circle and not walk too near, because when they get afraid, 379 00:22:04,565 --> 00:22:08,045 they could, of course, kick just because they get scared and 380 00:22:08,045 --> 00:22:12,365 think something happens so and they don't see you there. And 381 00:22:12,365 --> 00:22:15,350 it's the same with like when something is on the ground, like 382 00:22:15,350 --> 00:22:16,490 a snake, for example. 383 00:22:16,720 --> 00:22:21,880 Scarlett: I'm Scarlett and I'm from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. 384 00:22:21,880 --> 00:22:24,820 Why are there so many types of horses? 385 00:22:25,060 --> 00:22:27,340 Jane: We've talked about the Icelandic horse, which is 386 00:22:27,340 --> 00:22:30,520 special and different from some other horse breeds. Why are 387 00:22:30,520 --> 00:22:31,120 there so many? 388 00:22:31,000 --> 00:22:33,940 Sonja Noack: I would say it's because we have, of course, very 389 00:22:33,940 --> 00:22:38,440 different landscapes and very different you know, like when 390 00:22:38,440 --> 00:22:41,920 you go to the Sahara, it's, of course, very, very hot, and then 391 00:22:42,160 --> 00:22:45,880 the horses are just totally different bred, especially for 392 00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:49,060 that. And like here in Iceland, we we have the Icelandic horse, 393 00:22:49,060 --> 00:22:51,700 which is really good in the cold. So it's a lot about the 394 00:22:51,700 --> 00:22:55,045 breeding, about and also what you are going to do, or you are 395 00:22:55,885 --> 00:23:00,385 going to do dressage or gaited riding or jumping, or leisure 396 00:23:00,385 --> 00:23:04,825 writing or distance. So it's very, very much different. 397 00:23:05,065 --> 00:23:08,905 Difference between that and, yeah, out of it's, of course, 398 00:23:08,905 --> 00:23:13,465 very every horse has, or horse breed has all long story, or 399 00:23:13,465 --> 00:23:14,245 most of them. 400 00:23:14,305 --> 00:23:18,205 Aurora: My name is Aurora. I'm 10 years old. No, not 10, 11. I 401 00:23:18,205 --> 00:23:21,670 live in Holland, Vermont. What's the most popular horse breed? 402 00:23:21,790 --> 00:23:24,310 Sonja Noack: I heard it's the American Quarter Horse, 403 00:23:24,310 --> 00:23:29,770 actually. But yeah, I think Icelandic horses are actually 404 00:23:29,770 --> 00:23:33,910 very popular because of their gaits. And I think it's getting 405 00:23:33,910 --> 00:23:39,910 more and more also in America, in the United States, but all 406 00:23:39,910 --> 00:23:43,615 over the world, I heard it's the American Quarter Horse. 407 00:23:44,095 --> 00:23:48,235 Jane: Sonja has about 30 or 35 horses at her riding school, and 408 00:23:48,235 --> 00:23:51,595 they're all Icelandic horses, of course, because other types 409 00:23:51,595 --> 00:23:55,075 aren't allowed in Iceland. I asked her if she had a favorite 410 00:23:55,075 --> 00:23:55,435 one. 411 00:23:55,615 --> 00:23:59,875 Sonja Noack: Oh, that's a tough one. I really love Twister, the 412 00:23:59,875 --> 00:24:00,895 one we have here. 413 00:24:01,015 --> 00:24:02,985 Jane: Yeah, but that's because we're standing in Twister's 414 00:24:02,870 --> 00:24:05,200 stall. You can't say you like somebody else better when we're 415 00:24:05,200 --> 00:24:06,460 standing right next to him. 416 00:24:06,540 --> 00:24:09,960 Sonja Noack: Yes, I love him, but I also love and, you know, 417 00:24:10,140 --> 00:24:13,560 Skiði and, of course, I love all of them. I, I think it's very 418 00:24:13,560 --> 00:24:16,680 important like also with the riding school horses. I, I 419 00:24:16,680 --> 00:24:21,720 really like them all. They are very, very different characters, 420 00:24:21,720 --> 00:24:25,800 and I want them to be, and it's okay to be different characters. 421 00:24:25,800 --> 00:24:29,280 That makes it so fun, so and everyone has its qualities. 422 00:24:29,280 --> 00:24:32,220 Jane: Like people. Everybody has a different personality. 423 00:24:32,220 --> 00:24:34,485 Sonja Noack: 100% and that's just perfect. 424 00:24:34,485 --> 00:24:37,545 Jane: Before we let Sonia get back to her chores, we asked her 425 00:24:37,545 --> 00:24:41,565 to show us one more thing: the special ways Icelandic horses 426 00:24:41,565 --> 00:24:45,525 can move. When you think of how horses walk or run, you might 427 00:24:45,525 --> 00:24:48,465 think of a walk, a trot, a canter and a gallop, but 428 00:24:48,465 --> 00:24:52,005 Icelandic horses can do two more types, or gaits. 429 00:24:52,360 --> 00:24:56,860 Sonja Noack: Yes, we have the tölt and tölt is the same. They 430 00:24:56,860 --> 00:25:01,960 are moving their legs, same as in walk. So all, there's always 431 00:25:01,960 --> 00:25:06,340 at least one feet on the ground which make it very smooth. They 432 00:25:06,340 --> 00:25:09,640 are not like jumping up in the air like in trot and gallop, 433 00:25:09,640 --> 00:25:15,280 where sometimes the feet are all like up in the air. So it's 434 00:25:15,280 --> 00:25:19,765 getting very smooth. And it can be from very slow to very fast. 435 00:25:20,185 --> 00:25:24,445 And it's, it's very fun to ride it. It's like sitting on a 436 00:25:24,805 --> 00:25:29,425 light, slightly moving sofa. When you have a good tölt horse 437 00:25:30,025 --> 00:25:34,465 and their pace, it's really fast. Has to be really fast to 438 00:25:34,465 --> 00:25:38,965 be really good. And it's mostly ridden out of the gallop. Then 439 00:25:38,965 --> 00:25:42,430 they you are going, lay the horse down to pace, as we call 440 00:25:42,430 --> 00:25:47,410 it, and put it into pace, and then that goes very fast. And 441 00:25:47,410 --> 00:25:50,950 it's a little bit like the camels, when they move the feet 442 00:25:51,130 --> 00:25:56,050 on both on the just both left feet, and then they flying, and 443 00:25:56,050 --> 00:25:58,750 then both right feet, and then they're flying, and then both 444 00:25:58,750 --> 00:26:05,095 left and so on so. And they are like stretching their head and 445 00:26:05,335 --> 00:26:07,615 run really fast like this. It's very fun to see. 446 00:26:08,035 --> 00:26:10,855 Jane: What's the difference in the way it feels from a gallop 447 00:26:10,915 --> 00:26:12,055 to pace? 448 00:26:12,655 --> 00:26:15,715 Sonja Noack: Gallop is more, you know, it's three-beat. So it's 449 00:26:15,715 --> 00:26:19,855 like doo doo doo, doo doo doo, doo doo so when it you always 450 00:26:19,855 --> 00:26:24,355 like having this circle moving and in pace, it's a little bit. 451 00:26:24,355 --> 00:26:28,660 It's just, it's, it's going so fast. So don't you, you don't 452 00:26:28,660 --> 00:26:33,160 have so much time to think it's just, it's a little bit... 453 00:26:34,120 --> 00:26:37,060 Jane: You're making a hand expression like, vibration. 454 00:26:37,000 --> 00:26:40,960 Sonja Noack: Yeah, vibration, and going really fast. It's 455 00:26:41,560 --> 00:26:44,620 adrenaline, you need to get, you know, when you write really good 456 00:26:45,220 --> 00:26:49,000 flying pace, you will get sometimes, like a little bit 457 00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:52,600 like feeling at the knees and so and so, you get some adrenaline 458 00:26:53,140 --> 00:26:56,380 with it. And you don't ride it for a long time. It's mostly 459 00:26:56,380 --> 00:27:01,000 ridden like, you know, between 100 and 250 meters or 300 or 460 00:27:01,000 --> 00:27:04,705 something, but only short at once, because it takes a lot of 461 00:27:04,705 --> 00:27:07,765 energy of the horse, because they put everything in it. 462 00:27:08,125 --> 00:27:11,425 Jane: Why would you use pace instead of gallop? When, what 463 00:27:11,425 --> 00:27:13,825 would the situation be where you would choose one over the other? 464 00:27:14,605 --> 00:27:16,765 Sonja Noack: When I ride up a hill, for example, I would 465 00:27:16,765 --> 00:27:19,525 always choose the gallop. And when I ride straight, I would 466 00:27:19,525 --> 00:27:23,605 take the pace, if it's a straight line and enough place, 467 00:27:23,605 --> 00:27:30,490 space, you know, and a clear way, and then I would choose 468 00:27:30,490 --> 00:27:34,690 pace. And it's, it's just different because it's, it's 469 00:27:34,690 --> 00:27:39,610 something you ride not as often as the gallop. And gallop you of 470 00:27:39,610 --> 00:27:43,450 course, can also ride very slow but not flying pace. 471 00:27:43,660 --> 00:27:46,900 Jane: Seeing how these horses move in their different strides 472 00:27:46,900 --> 00:27:50,200 or gaits would be great, right? But we're a podcast, so you 473 00:27:50,200 --> 00:27:55,660 can't see anything. But hearing can also be helpful. We asked 474 00:27:55,660 --> 00:27:58,600 Sonja if she and one of her horses would help demonstrate 475 00:27:58,600 --> 00:28:01,900 these different ways of moving that she was talking about. So 476 00:28:01,900 --> 00:28:05,620 she saddled up Krumi, a dark brown horse with an even darker 477 00:28:05,620 --> 00:28:09,805 mane, and we went to the riding ring. We attached a microphone 478 00:28:09,805 --> 00:28:13,045 to Sonja so you can hear Krummi's hooves and Sonja's 479 00:28:13,045 --> 00:28:17,185 description as she rides around the ring. So close your eyes and 480 00:28:17,185 --> 00:28:20,725 just listen for the next minute or two and see if you can hear 481 00:28:20,725 --> 00:28:23,005 the difference in each type of stride. 482 00:28:25,160 --> 00:28:26,840 Sonja Noack: So I'm gonna go to trot now. 483 00:28:26,480 --> 00:28:41,360 Now I'm gonna ride tolt, then gallop and then pace. 484 00:29:25,430 --> 00:29:28,190 Jane: That was Krummi, the horse, and Sonja Noack, the 485 00:29:28,190 --> 00:29:31,430 rider. Thanks to Sonja for answering all of our many 486 00:29:31,430 --> 00:29:35,330 questions about horses. She's the owner of Hestasnilld, a 487 00:29:35,330 --> 00:29:39,635 riding school in Mosfellsbær, Iceland. We have pictures and 488 00:29:39,635 --> 00:29:42,695 videos of Sonja and her horses on our Instagram and YouTube 489 00:29:42,695 --> 00:29:45,575 pages, if you'd like to see what an Icelandic horse looks like 490 00:29:45,575 --> 00:29:49,355 and what those different gaits look like. As always, if you 491 00:29:49,355 --> 00:29:53,915 have a question about anything, send it to us. We get a lot of 492 00:29:53,915 --> 00:29:57,395 questions, and we really wish we could answer them all. But even 493 00:29:57,395 --> 00:30:00,620 if we can't answer your question, we love hearing it. We 494 00:30:00,620 --> 00:30:02,960 want to know what's on your mind, what you're feeling 495 00:30:02,960 --> 00:30:05,240 curious about, and what you think we could help you learn 496 00:30:05,240 --> 00:30:08,720 about. You can have an adult help you record your question 497 00:30:08,780 --> 00:30:12,080 using one of the free apps on a smartphone or tablet, and then 498 00:30:12,080 --> 00:30:16,940 you can send the file to questions@butwhykids.org. If you 499 00:30:16,940 --> 00:30:20,060 like our show, please leave a review or some stars on whatever 500 00:30:20,060 --> 00:30:23,165 platform you use to listen. It helps other kids discover us. 501 00:30:23,825 --> 00:30:27,065 Our show is produced by Sarah Baik, Melody Bodette and me Jane 502 00:30:27,065 --> 00:30:31,505 Lindholm at Vermont Public and distributed by PRX. Our video 503 00:30:31,505 --> 00:30:34,985 producer is Joey Palumbo. Our theme music is by Luke Reynolds. 504 00:30:35,405 --> 00:30:39,425 We'll be back in two weeks with an all new episode. Until then, 505 00:30:39,665 --> 00:30:41,045 stay curious.