Quidding in horses refers to a condition where a horse drops partially chewed food or hay from its mouth while eating. This can occur due to various dental issues such as sharp enamel points, dental overgrowths, or missing teeth, which can cause discomfort or pain while chewing. When a horse …
Horses are one of the most loving and affectionate animals around, and they often show their love for their human counterparts in various ways. I know, I know, this title is typically held by dogs, but just because you can’t have a horse sit on your lap, doesn’t mean you …
Mutual grooming, or allogrooming as it’s also known, is when two horses scratch each others’ backs by nibbling. This is a super common behaviour among horses because it’s a way to form and strengthen social bonds. Horses will stand next to each other and groom each other on the back, …
Your horse is full of pressure points that he regularly uses to communicate with other horses. It’s incredibly beneficial for you to know what these points are and how to use them for more effective communication with your horse. Let’s first talk about volume. This is similar to how you …
To see the world from your horse’s point of view, you literally need to know how your horse takes in the world. We, humans, evolved to be hunters and gatherers. This meant getting good at chasing down prey that could run away very quickly, and learning how to tell what …
To really understand your horse, you need to understand the world he lives in, how he sees things differently than you, even when you’re looking at the same thing. Your horse lives in a world of hay and grass – food is a top priority in life for your horse …
Getting a new horse is super exciting (doesn’t matter if it’s your first one or your fifth one), but getting the new member to join your already existing herd can result in some tense moments. Horses are herd animals and you should always strive to have your horse live in …
The flehmen response is a behaviour in which your horse curls back her upper lip exposing its front teeth, inhales with the nostrils usually closed, and then tyically holds this position for several seconds. The nostrils of your horse flare to draw more scents into the long, cavernous nasal passages that are …
When you disturb your horse’s sense of smell, like overwhelming it with a very strong scent, her social interactions are radically altered. As prey animals, horses need to be able to detect even the slightest scent of danger on the wind to stay safe. Horses are also quick to note …
Horses are highly social creatures and communicate with each other quite a bit. If you watch closely you can observe this constant interplay of communication, energy and body language passing between horses and rippling through a herd. Horses use a wide range of expressions, gesticulations and movements to communicate in …
As a flight animal, your horse’s body will inherently strive to hide any signs of pain for as long as possible. A little pain doesn’t usually result in big changes and it can be really difficult to spot. It’s important that you know your horse well and can spot the …
The sense of balance is crucial to your horse and it is important for anyone working with horses to understand how it affects behaviour. Immediately after birth foals being practising to stand. The sensory receptors, called proprioceptors, in the muscles, joints, tendons and skin sense the position of the body …
