See my teeth?! - Western Training & Behavior - Western Training & Behavior - Horse Community, Horse Pictures, Horse Forum and Information

Posted : 3/16/2011 12:13:51 AM

So we brought home a horse to "test ride" this week for my husand. Our newest furry friend, Ace, is a 4 year old gelding. He and my mare Masi are in separate pastures and share one fence. Sunday they were at the fence visiting each other and he would smell the ground, then stretch his neck and nose up and curl back his upper lip and show her his teeth. He wasn't trying to bite her. He did this multiple times. We checked and he didn't have anything stuck in his mouth. I've heard a couple different theories. Is this him flirting or being submissive?

FreeMare

Posted : 5/8/2011 2:00:27 PM

The lip curl is something that most gelding and stallions do. It helps draw a smell, or something funny smelling up into their lip and nose to get a better idea of what it is. They do this when a mare is in heat (ready to breed). He could also be doing it (if your mare is not in heat) if he smells something funny.

samsara

Posted : 5/8/2011 5:41:08 PM

It's called the Flehmen response. It's nothing to worry about. He's just smelling.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flehmen_response

studeclunker

Posted : 5/9/2011 4:48:16 AM

He's just saying she stinks good.