Why do horses have long hair tails & hair on there backheads?

Question

Why did they evolve that way, whats the use of them?

Answer 1

The horses are having a gene to grow hairs like that,,the hairs in their tail helps them to wipe out unwanted things in their backside,,,well about hairs on backheads, it shows their maturity,,,,

Answer 2

Fly protection mostly.  The mane that goes down the neck covers the neck which has most of the veins that mosquitos and such go after.  We had a horse sensitive to mosquito bites and it was her neck that always had the worst bites.  The hair that goes from between the ears(forelock) helps cover the eyes.  You can even buy a type of flymask that is just loose strips of cloth that come down over the eyes like a thick forelock would.  The tail swishes across the body constantly brushing away bugs from most places.  They can also twitch their skin to get rid of mild bugs.  Every now and then a horse will reach around with it's head to get a stubborn fly.

Hair can also help prevent rubbing and skin damage.  This is seen more with the long hair on the fetlocks or what most people would call the ankle joint.

Answer 3

The hair is used for fly protection.  The tail can swipe away bugs and the mane protects their skin from biting insects.  Have you ever watched a horse? That is the only reason why they swish their tails is to get a fly off of them. It seems pretty obvious if you ask me.

Answer 4

You don't know very much about horses do you. It's to swat flys and other insects.

Answer 5

backheads..now there's a term i've never heard before... mainly to fend off flies and balance and also to protect there bodies from heat or cold..

Answer 6

horses have a mane and a long tail to protect them and keep the flies away.

they swish their tails around to keep the flys away.

Answer 7

They swat flies with them.