Last Updated on February 22, 2022 by Allison Price
The other day, I managed to slip my foot under one of my geldings while grooming him. It was especially painful considering the cold weather. Although he didn’t kick me, it got me thinking about how hard horses can kick. I tried asking my friends, but they weren’t able to tell me so I did some research and was shocked at the results.
What is the maximum horse can kick? An average horse can kick at a speed of 200 mph and with around 2,000 pounds per square inch of force. This is more than any professional boxer could punch, and enough force to kill an individual.
Although it might seem like a lot of power, that doesn’t tell you much about how strong their kick is or what it feels like.
How strong can a horse kick?
It doesn’t tell us much if a horse’s kick can produce 2,000 pounds of force. Although it may sound impressive, it is difficult to see how it compares with other forces. The best way to demonstrate their power was to compare it to other forces. Below is a table that shows how powerful a horse’s kick can be compared to various other forces.
| T-Rex bite | 13,000 |
| MLB player swing | 8,314 |
| Crocodile bite | 5,000 |
| PGA golf swing | 4,000 |
| Great White Shark bite | 3,800 |
| Horse kick | 2,000 |
| Hippopotamus bite | 1,800 |
| Heavyweight boxer punch | 1,420 |
| Gorilla bite | 1,300 |
| Lion bite | 1,235 |
| Polar Bear bite | 1,200 |
| Grizzly Bear bite | 975 |
It might seem that a kick is more powerful when the horse wears shoes. However, it won’t hurt as much and the force will not be greater.
As you can see, a horse’s kick is very powerful and not something you would want to receive. Horses prefer not to kick, and will usually warn you before they do. If you ignore these warnings, the horse may kick you but they won’t use all their strength. Most horsey people will have been kicked at some point in their lives by horses, but this percentage is very low.
How does it feel to be kicked from a horse?
Unfortunately, many horse owners are well aware of the pain and discomfort that horse kicks can cause. These kicks are usually accidental and the horse was not trying to hurt the recipient. They can be quite painful, and many ER doctors compare the injuries from a horse kick with those sustained by someone who is struck by a car travelling at 20 mph.
How dangerous can a horse’s kick be?
Horses don’t usually mean to kick us. It’s more often a matter of the wrong time and wrong place. However, that doesn’t make it any less painful. If you are lucky, you will end up with a severe bruise that can last for a while. The longest time I have had a bruise is over a month. If you are not lucky, you could end up with broken bones and soft tissue damage.
It is important to know where the horse kicked you. A kick to the chest can cause cardiac arrest, while a kick to your head (which is rare) could prove fatal. Most horse kicks result in broken bones.
How many people are killed each year by a horse’s kick?
https://7a302a40201b945de9b4cee2f265bd78.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.htmlAlthough a horse’s kick can prove fatal and extremely dangerous, it is not a common occurrence. Horse-related deaths account for around 20 people every year. However, this is a small number. The vast majority of horse-related deaths are caused by accidents and not kicks. However, only 15% of deaths due to horse-related incidents are caused by kicks. On average, 0.6 people die each year from being kicked or bitten by horses.
This is because there are only 30 million horse riders in America, so the chance of being killed by horse kicks is very small. You can also see how low the chance of getting hurt by a horse kick when you consider that RTAs cause 1.35 million deaths each year. However, you should not be concerned about horse kicks.
How do you defend yourself against a horse’s kick.
You don’t have to wear shoes if your horse isn’t required to. However, wearing a helmet will help reduce the severity of a kick. A body protector would also protect your torso. Boots are possible, but there are not many riding boots that have steel-capped toes.
You can avoid walking behind your horse until you are able to read his body language. If you need to stroke his back or brush his tail, make sure to do so from the side. It will be much more difficult for him to kick you, even if he does so inadvertently.
Are you likely to be kicked off a horse?
Each animal has its own “weapon(s),” which they can use to defend themselves. Horses have their hooves but also have claws and teeth. Rhinos have their horns. Horses are gentle and don’t have a tendency to be aggressive.
You’ll be far less likely to get kicked if you keep your distance and pay attention to any warning signs. However, horses may occasionally kick if they are scared, panicked or in great pain. This is very rare.
Related questions
How fast is a horse able to kick?
Horses can reach speeds of up to 75 mph (121 km/h). This is why it’s important to be cautious around horses, especially if they are not well-trained or you don’t have the experience necessary to read and understand their behavior.
A horse can kick sideways.
Although horses can and do kick sideways, these kicks are not as strong as regular kicks. However, they can cause serious injury if you aren’t careful.
Is it possible to be killed by a kick from horses?
If it strikes you in the wrong spot, a horse’s kick can cause you to die. Although it is possible for horses to kill humans by simply kicking, it is very rare.
