Important Equine Numbers

Anastasia Kellogg

Useful Numbers

• Many of the answers in knowledge competitions are numerical. Please note that in most competitions, the rules state that if the answer is a range, a number within a range should be given. Therefore, our chart lists safe numbers from within these ranges, where applicable.

Length of gestation in days 340

Length of estrous cycle in days 21

Number of teeth in a foal 24

Number of teeth in a stallion 40

Number of teeth in a mare 36

Average respiration rate 12

Average capillary refill rate 1-2 seconds

Average pulse rate 36

Number of cervical vertebrae 7

Number of thoracic vertebrae 18

Number of lumbar vertebrae 6

Number of sacral vertebrae 5

Number of coccygeal vertebrae 20 (18-21)

Number of pairs of ribs 18

Number of pairs of false ribs 10

Number of pairs of true ribs 8

Number of chromosomes 64 (32 pairs)

Average equine temperature 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit

Total number of toes possessed by Eohippus 14

Number of segments in the sternum 8

Number of quarts held by the large intestine

80

Number of quarts held by the small intestine

48

Number of quarts held by the small intestine

8-17

Length of alimentary canal in feet 100

Length of the esophagus in inches 60

Length of the cecum in feet 4

Feet in a furlong 660

Yards in a furlong 220

Number of Triple Crown winners 11