Horses are some of the most majestic animals on the planet, and as anyone who spends time around them knows, they're also some of the goofiest. Sure, they might have provided the inspiration for mythical creatures such as unicorns and Pegasus, but you'd never guess it after seeing them in the field nonchalantly wearing a twisted, muddy blanket halfway over their head. Our enchanting equines never fail to surprise us, but some of their quirky behaviors might actually be cause for concern.
We've seen before that horse owners deal with a lot of strange stuff that "normal" people could never understand, but even when you've dealt with a lot of equine oddities, there will always be some horsey habits that mystify you. Horses have the uncanny ability to get injured or sick in the strangest ways, and many times, you might not even notice that something is off unless you know exactly what signs to look for. Odd equine behavior can often be laughed off, such as when this horse had a hilarious gas attack when he laid down to roll, but other times it can be a sign of a health or equipment problem.
If the horse you love has some quirky habits you don't quite understand, it's always a good idea to make sure that you don't need to call the vet. Many times, it really is a simple case of your four-legged friend just goofing off, but it's always better to be safe than sorry. I was so worried when my horse started to do number 12, but now that I know it's not a dental problem, I crack up every time I see her do it!
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1. They crib.
This is a stable vice in which a horse latches onto something (usually a wall) with their teeth, arches their neck, and sucks in air. It may seem like a harmless (though annoying) habit, but it can cause serious health problems, including colic. But what causes this strange behavior? Boredom is often the initial cause, which is why you often see it in race horses that spent much of their first years of life in a stall. Cribbing can easily become a habit because it's thought that horses can get addicted to the rush of endorphins they experience when they suck in air. Cribbing collars is the most popular way to discourage this bad habit.
2. They drop their hay in their water bucket.
Don't you love it when you scrub out your horse's bucket only to find it filled with wet hay minutes later? Horses dunk their hay in water for a variety of reasons; some are simply messy eaters, and others do it to play with their food. They also might be trying to get rid of dust that's piled up on their hay, especially if the weather is particularly dry where you live. Try wetting down your horse's hay yourself using a hose to see if that curbs his messy ways.
3. They toss their head.
A hose that tosses his head as he runs around and plays in the field is likely just having a good time. However, if they're doing it under saddle, especially if you use a bit, it could be a medical problem. Sharp teeth that cut into your horse's gums could be causing him pain that he feels like he can't escape from, and a visit from the equine dentist could be all he needs to get his head back down where it belongs. Another possibility might be that his spine is out of alignment, in which case a call to the equine chiropractor might be in order. If you can rule out medical issues, check to make sure your bit isn't too severe or tight on your horse's mouth. You'd probably throw your head around if you had a rough piece of metal in your mouth, too!
4. They slobber while you ride them.
While excessive drooling can sometimes be caused by a dental problem (especially if your horse has a "parrot mouth"), chances are that all that slobber is actually a good thing. A horse that is comfortable and responsive to the bit will often get somewhat frothy around the lips, which is one reason you often see graceful dressage horses drooling enough to form a small lake while they perform with their riders.
5. They nuzzle your hair.
How many times have you come home from the barn with a bit of carrot-grass-slobber stew accessorizing your hair? Horses tend to nuzzle just about anything they can get their noses on, whether it's a fluffy jacket, a ponytail, or an actual pony's tail, and it's for the same reason we run our fingers over a soft-looking blanket: we want to know what it feels like. A horse's nose and lips contain lots of nerve endings and act as their "fingers." As an added bonus, horses get to use their strong sense of smell when they nuzzle interesting objects, giving them a complete sensory experience!
6. They weave.
Another stable vice, weaving is the act of shifting weight from one side to the other, usually while facing the door of a stall. Like cribbing, this habit tends to spawn from boredom. A horse with pent-up energy and nowhere to let it out might start weaving as an attempt to burn off steam. It can also occur if a horse lacks the ability to socialize or forage. Providing adequate turnout or hay can encourage your horse to stop this behavior, as can giving them the ability to see other horses. However, if they've been weaving since a young age, it's possible that they'll keep doing it no matter what preventative measures you take.
7. They lick or try to eat wood.
Few things make you feel like a bad horsey parent quite like watching your horse try to gnaw bark off a tree right after they've eaten their dinner. But don't worry — your horse isn't using the most melodramatic way ever to tell you that he's still hungry. He might, however, be trying to tell you that he has a mineral deficiency. Some animals will instinctively lick or try to eat wood if they're not getting enough nutrients in their diet. Luckily, this problem usually has an easy fix. All you have to do is put a mineral block where your horse has access to it, and before long, they'll stop getting splinters in their tongue.
8. They refuse to cross any type of water.
You'd think that an animal who has seen her fair share of rainy days wouldn't freak out over the thought of walking through a puddle, but some horses are really, really not crazy about putting their hooves into water. We might know that the creek that goes through the trail only goes up to our ankles, but horses are prey animals. Evolution has driven into their minds that beneath that water could be a hungry crocodile, and many of their zebra cousins end up finding that out the hard way. Your domesticated horse might overcome their fear of water and even develop a love for swimming with enough desensitizing, but remember to be patient with them!
9. They make *that* face.
That face is called the flehmen response, and it helps your horse get a good whiff of whatever they're smelling. Curling their lip up like that helps increase airflow through the nostrils, which is why you'll often see your horse doing it if you're wearing perfume or if there's a mare in heat nearby.
10. They 'creak' while you ride them.
If you've ridden a stallion or a gelding, you might have noticed a strange creaking noise when they trot or canter. Is it your saddle? Nope. That noise is coming from your horse's sheath. Air or gunk that gets trapped up there can cause a squeaking sound as the horse's body bounces around at a faster gait. It's usually harmless, but it's a noisy reminder that it might be time to clean your horse's sheath. Once everything is squeaky-clean, you'll have a less squeaky ride.
11. They're extra messy with their food.
Even more frustrating than finding hay in a water bucket can be finding grain littered all over the stall floor or the field. It could be that your horse is just a slob, but a more common possibility is that a dental issue is the cause. Horses that have an overbite, aka "parrot mouth," sometimes have a hard time keeping those little bits of food in their mouths. Even if a horse's teeth come together normally, they still might have hooks or other dental problems that can make it difficult or even painful for them to chew their food, leading to messes at dinnertime. Get the equine dentist out if you notice your horse's food ending up on the ground instead of in their mouth.
12. They let their tongues hang out.
In addition to the flehmen response, some horses just let their tongue hang out the sides of their mouths. Very rarely, it can be due to a dental problem or ill-fitting bit, but usually, this goofy behavior is simply due to boredom. If it bothers you too much, you can try providing your horse with a stall toy or keep them interested with new techniques while you ride. But normally, this silly quirk isn't anything to worry about.
13. They stretch out their front legs and put their weight on their hind end.
Horses sometimes stand in really strange positions, and if you find one standing like this, it might mean nothing at all. Most horses even stand like this in order to urinate comfortably. But if it becomes a recurring situation, something more sinister could be at work. Laminitis and other hoof and leg conditions can lead to the horse wanting to take weight off their front legs. Seeing this stance once in a while might just mean your horse is stretching, but if it happens frequently, get the vet out as soon as possible.
14. They get EXTRA friendly with their herdmates.
If there are mares at the barn, you might notice that things get a little strange about once a month. When mares go into heat, they might want to be "friends" with both male and female horses. Two mares that are in heat at the same time might start a (short-lived) relationship, becoming best friends one day and then pinning their ears at each other a few days later. If you find yourself getting dragged over to every single horse in the barn when your mare goes into heat, don't worry — it won't last too long.
15. They twitch their skin.
We humans might occasionally get an eye twitch or have a muscle that seems to spasm for no reason every now and again, but horses can twitch their skin whenever and wherever they want. You'll usually see it happen when a pesky fly lands on them, but sometimes they do it to try to relieve themselves of a random itch that strikes them suddenly. It can also be an instinctive reaction to pain, so be on the lookout if your horse seems to be twitching a specific spot in excess.
16. They become way skinnier after you tighten the girth.
"Puffing out" might be one of the more irritating things your horse does when you get ready to ride them, but normally, there's a just cause behind it. Many horses have developed a habit of sticking their stomachs out when the girth is tightened after experiencing the feeling of it being yanked up hard one too many times. Another possibility is that they've gotten their sensitive skin pinched in the girth, or perhaps they have a history of being ridden with the girth too tight.
If your horse seems to magically become three holes as soon as you mount, try to make sure you're making the saddling experience pleasant for them. Tighten the girth slowly, hole by hole, instead of immediately pulling it as tight as it will go. At its tightest, you should be able to snugly fit four fingers between it and your horse's belly; if you can't even fit a few fingers in there, then how do you think your horse feels having to move around while he's being squeezed? Before mounting, it's also a good idea to stretch out your horse's front legs to free any wrinkled skin that might be getting pinched. And of course, always make sure you check your girth before you get on.
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