Question?? Horse Behavior

onehorse · 09-01-2008, 06:59 PM

If a horse curls up his upper lip and show his teeth what does this action mean? Mine has started this ,is this showing

a aggressive action.

AllUpHill · 09-01-2008, 07:03 PM

What are you doing when this occurs? Are you spraying something, scratching in a great place, giving a delicious treat or doing something your horse dislikes? How does the rest of his/her posture look?

Luvridn · 09-01-2008, 07:08 PM

It's called the Flehmen response and aids in a horses smell....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flehmen

eta: some horses also do this when they have some abdominal pain or stress, so be watchful of colic!

wind lake · 09-01-2008, 07:09 PM

As far as I have experienced that, it has been a normal horse reaction to smells. My gelding does it when he smells tobacco,and our stallion used to do it when there was a mare in the area ,especially one that was in heat and he could smell as she walked down the barn aisle. What makes your horse do it? I know that I am really careful with perfume on me. I try to be careful with spray things at the barn. G

Crookedblaze · 09-01-2008, 11:10 PM

My gelding Rocket does it when I scratch his neck, or if he smells something. They always look so funny when they do that.

SheZAAM! · 09-02-2008, 10:35 AM

I saw a horse do it when the horse next to him farted. It was hilarious!

cameo05 · 09-02-2008, 10:44 AM

I have heard the smell thing too. Mine do it a certain times.. Liberty when you scratch her sweet spot, Duke when ever he wants, One after a wormer. A few I have never seen do it. With mine it is not a sign of disrespect.

PeggySue · 09-02-2008, 10:46 AM

Lazy does it all the time
Babs does it whenever you are putting anything on her!!

ToveroMom · 09-02-2008, 11:08 AM

It aids smell-they can scoop in more of the "scent bits" when they do that.

Valerie62 · 09-02-2008, 11:16 AM

My horse did that the first time she was given a peppermint candy.

blueberry · 09-02-2008, 03:52 PM

Genie does that alot, especially after she gets her worming medicine

. She looks like an aardvark.

prancingpony · 09-02-2008, 03:55 PM

My mini does it to cuss at me. Seriously---If I get after him for doing something naughty...he trots off and turns and curls his lip at me!! LOL

BabyMay · 09-02-2008, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prancingpony

My mini does it to cuss at me. Seriously---If I get after him for doing something naughty...he trots off and turns and curls his lip at me!! LOL

Now that is just too cute. I can just picture it in my head. LOL

rubysrider · 09-02-2008, 05:16 PM

I had a gelding that did it a lot, especially when he ate bread. Ruby has done that when she coliced. It's never been a respect issue for any of mine.
The bulls we have do it too.

onehorse · 09-02-2008, 08:05 PM

Thanks everyone for the info. He mostly does this when we are talking to him in his stall.

scrapchick · 09-02-2008, 08:08 PM

Maybe you just smell delicious!

jjsimsez · 09-04-2008, 01:19 PM

when a kid,i taught my pony to do this on command.id tell her to smile and then give her a treat.was cute.

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09-01-2008, 06:59 PM
onehorse Newborn Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: South Carolina Posts: 21	Question?? Horse Behavior If a horse curls up his upper lip and show his teeth what does this action mean? Mine has started this ,is this showing a aggressive action.

09-01-2008, 07:03 PM
AllUpHill Yearling Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: US Posts: 661	What are you doing when this occurs? Are you spraying something, scratching in a great place, giving a delicious treat or doing something your horse dislikes? How does the rest of his/her posture look?

09-01-2008, 07:08 PM
Luvridn Long Yearling Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mobile, Alabama Posts: 1,053	It's called the Flehmen response and aids in a horses smell.... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flehmen eta: some horses also do this when they have some abdominal pain or stress, so be watchful of colic! __________________ If your horse wants to bolt, there is probably a nut loose in the saddle! PP Last edited by Luvridn : 09-01-2008 at 07:14 PM.

09-01-2008, 07:09 PM
wind lake Newborn Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: new hampshire Posts: 31	As far as I have experienced that, it has been a normal horse reaction to smells. My gelding does it when he smells tobacco,and our stallion used to do it when there was a mare in the area ,especially one that was in heat and he could smell as she walked down the barn aisle. What makes your horse do it? I know that I am really careful with perfume on me. I try to be careful with spray things at the barn. G

09-01-2008, 11:10 PM
Crookedblaze Started Join Date: May 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,360	My gelding Rocket does it when I scratch his neck, or if he smells something. They always look so funny when they do that. __________________ Owned by Rocketman, a 17 year old AQHA and Stormy, a 10 year old Peruvian Paso x Arab

09-02-2008, 10:35 AM
SheZAAM! Yearling Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Denver Posts: 517	I saw a horse do it when the horse next to him farted. It was hilarious! __________________

09-02-2008, 10:44 AM
cameo05 Bombproof Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Georgia Posts: 8,694	I have heard the smell thing too. Mine do it a certain times.. Liberty when you scratch her sweet spot, Duke when ever he wants, One after a wormer. A few I have never seen do it. With mine it is not a sign of disrespect. __________________

09-02-2008, 10:46 AM
PeggySue Yearling Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Dennison, Illinois Posts: 525	Lazy does it all the time Babs does it whenever you are putting anything on her!!

09-02-2008, 11:08 AM
ToveroMom Pasture Pet Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cleveland TX Posts: 15,296	It aids smell-they can scoop in more of the "scent bits" when they do that. __________________ "In America,anyone can be President. That is one of the chances you take" Adlai Stevenson

09-02-2008, 11:16 AM
Valerie62 Weanling Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Washington, PA Posts: 241	My horse did that the first time she was given a peppermint candy.

09-02-2008, 03:52 PM
blueberry Yearling Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: great lakes area Posts: 748	Genie does that alot, especially after she gets her worming medicine . She looks like an aardvark. __________________ Proud horse mom to: Genie the beauty queenie (3yo QH) Tess the best (5yo QH) "To err is human, to forgive is equine"

09-02-2008, 03:55 PM
prancingpony Started Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,430	My mini does it to cuss at me. Seriously---If I get after him for doing something naughty...he trots off and turns and curls his lip at me!! LOL __________________ Breeder of fine Gypsy Sport Horses http://www.freewebs.com/faewillow/ Equine Gifts at http://www.cafepress.com/faewillow

09-02-2008, 05:16 PM
rubysrider Yearling Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: N.W.Arkansas Posts: 732	I had a gelding that did it a lot, especially when he ate bread. Ruby has done that when she coliced. It's never been a respect issue for any of mine. The bulls we have do it too. __________________ Life is simpler when you plow around the stumps.

09-02-2008, 08:05 PM
onehorse Newborn Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: South Carolina Posts: 21	Thanks everyone for the info. He mostly does this when we are talking to him in his stall.

09-02-2008, 08:08 PM
scrapchick Seasoned Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Festus, Missouri Posts: 4,743	Maybe you just smell delicious! __________________ Better living through chemistry.

09-04-2008, 01:19 PM
jjsimsez Weanling Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: indiana Posts: 369	when a kid,i taught my pony to do this on command.id tell her to smile and then give her a treat.was cute.