What's that smell?

 

A fun fact for you today…..did you know that your horse can only breathe through their nose and not their mouth too like humans can❓

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Have you ever seen your horse curl his top lip like the pony in the image 😝

It might look funny but there is good reason for it❗️

▪️This action is called the ‘flehman’ response and by curling their lip up the horse is closing their own airway and ‘trapping’ a scent so that they can memorise it 🧠

▪️Horses will often do this when they come across a strong or unfamiliar smell 👃

▪️Stallions also use this technique to assess the breeding status of a mare 💓

▪️Horses have fantastic long memories and can ‘store’ memories of scents of people, other horses, and also feeds and substances.

▪️I mention substances as many of us have had a horse that will not touch medication in their food 🤷‍♀️

▪️The horse will have memorised the smell, and you will be unlikely to get them to eat it again once this has happened 🤦🏽‍♀️

▪️Your horse uses his sense of smell to make sense of his environment, and to help him recognise his friends and also recognise danger ⚠️

▪️Ever heard the old saying ‘the horse can smell your fear’❓

▪️There is some truth in that, as horses are able to ‘smell’ pheromones which will be secreted by your body if you are stressed, anxious or nervous 😬

To learn more about how your horse’s body works or how Equine Massage Therapy can help your horse check out my previous blogs or get in touch.

Jess | Jessica Limpkin Equine Massage Therapy