horse (thing)

Interesting Fact: Horses inhale only through their nostrils. If their nostrils are blocked, they will suffocate, and they will die.

Exploitation of this knowledge has led to a phenomenon in horse racing known as "sponging", where a sponge is forcibly shoved up one of the nostrils of a horse. With only one nostril a horse has a much harder time re-oxygenating its blood and their racing ability is significantly impaired. Horses are now being guarded much more carefully and checked by Jockeys and Owners prior to races to make sure they have not been sponged. Horse enthusiasts express deep shock that anyone involved with horses could be so cruel.