It’s common knowledge that horses sniff noses as a way of greeting each other. But why do they do this? Why do they sometimes squeal and kick out after sniffing noses while other times, they are fine?
Here is what you need to know about why horses sniff noses and some other common behaviors horses do that you may have been wondering about.
So, Why Do Horses Sniff Noses?
Horses sniff noses as a means of social communication. When they sniff noses, they’re gathering information about each other, such as the other horse’s identity, social status, reproductive status, and overall health. This behavior is a key element of horse social hierarchy, as it not only serves as a form of greeting, but also establishes the relationship the horses have with each other. It also serves as a mating behavior between mares and stallions.
Why Do Horses Sometimes Squeal And Kick Out After Sniffing Noses?
When horses first meet, they’ll sniff noses in order to determine each other’s place in the herd. If they like each other and know their place in the hierarchy relative to the other horse and are fine with that, sniffing noses is just a friendly greeting. If one or both of the horses squeal and kick out after sniffing noses, that is their way of trying to establish who is in charge.
Talk To Me: What Different Horse Sounds Mean
While horses tend to be quiet animals (except for around feeding time), they definitely have some noises that they make. Different sounds have different meanings.
- Nickering. This is a soft, kind of rumbly noise. Horses will nicker around feeding time, when they see members of their herd, when they see people they like. It’s a “come here” signal.
- Neighing. This is a loud call. Horses will neigh for a variety of reasons, from calling out to locate other members of the herd, to get attention, to greet other horses or humans they like, and more. This noise facilitates social contact from a distance.
- Squealing. Horses will squeal to indicate aggression, discomfort, and to communicate warnings or threats. As mentioned above, horses will squeal at each other when establishing dominance. Mares will also squeal at stallions to ward off unwanted advances.
- Snorting. There are a number of reasons why horses snort. They could just snort to clear their nasal passages, but they can also snort when they are stressed, to communicate that a danger has passed, when they are happy, or when they are excited or nervous.
- Sighing. Just like humans, horses tend to sigh when they are bored, happy, or relieved.
Do Horses Have Expressions?
If you don’t know much about horses, you may not think of them as expressive, but horses can indeed be very expressive, especially once you know what to look for. Horses use their eyes, ears, mouths, and body language to communicate. Here are some examples of what different horse expressions can look like.
- If a horse pins their ears, they’re not happy. If they’re especially angry, you may see the whites of their eyes and they may flash their teeth.
- If a horse’s ears droop to the side, their eyes shut or partially shut, and their bottom lip gets droopy, this means that they’re relaxed and resting.
- If a horse’s ears perk up and they lift their head, something has caught their attention.
These are but three of many expressions that horses can display. The more time you spend around horses, the easier it will be to read their expressions. Horse owners can often tell right away how their horse is feeling, by reading their expressions and body language.
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