horse puke

Horses have a unique and somewhat unsettling fact: they physically cannot vomit. Here’s why:

1. One-Way Valve: A horse’s esophagus connects to the stomach with a tight lower esophageal sphincter (cardiac sphincter), which acts as a one-way valve, making it nearly impossible for anything to come back up.

2. Strong Stomach Muscles: Unlike humans, horses' stomach muscles don’t have the strength or coordination to push contents back up the esophagus.

3. Fatal Consequences: If a horse’s stomach fills with gas or food and can’t expel it (since puking isn’t an option), it can rupture, which is almost always fatal.

4. Why Evolution Did This: Since horses are prey animals, running from danger is their top priority. If they had to stop and puke mid-gallop, it would make them more vulnerable to predators. Instead, their bodies just… deal with it (or, unfortunately, don’t).

So next time you're feeling sick, be glad you're not a horse—because throwing up is definitely better than exploding.