Smile

Sugar89 · 01-23-08, 06:27 PM

When a horse lifts it's head and pulls back its lips to show it's teeth, why is it doing that? When they kind of wave their lip about and it looks like they're having a cheeky smile. I can't describe it very well, but I will look for a picture.

horseplay · 01-24-08, 09:46 PM

I love when they do that. I don't know why either but it's so comical. You could swear that they're really smiling at you. I also love the nodding head. It's like their own hello.

Buckskin · 01-24-08, 10:44 PM

I think it's called the flehmen response. The horse curls it's upper lip to help pick up pheromones in the air. wikipedia has a great picture of it.

Izzy · 01-25-08, 02:04 AM

Yes, that's the one. It's to help make the pheromones pass over the Jacobson's Organ which is located on the roof of the mouth.

flatback_frannie · 01-25-08, 12:13 PM

Wow, thanks for posting that! That's really interesting. I had noticed my horses do it more when I'm menstrating and they get really friendly. Now I know why!

Sugar89 · 01-25-08, 09:21 PM

That's the one. Now I think about it, I think I've seen other animals do it too, like my cat when she's playing in the garden.

Zorse · 02-11-08, 07:21 PM

I don't think cats do stuff like that for the same reason. Male cats make this awful sound when those wonderful female scents come their way. Billy goats on the other hand do this like nothing else. It probably the only thing they do under the influence that isn't disgusting.

Cadri4n · 04-26-08, 05:42 PM

The curling lip reminds me of that Elvis lip "Thank you, Thank you very much you're a beautiful audience"

Men will be men as it seems that mares don't do it as often.

Aintree · 05-01-08, 03:20 PM

Ya mean like this?

I think he's singing "Donkey serenade"!!

Such a set of teeth, such a personality!

01-23-08, 06:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
Sugar89 Member Join Date: 01-02-08 Posts: 25	Smile When a horse lifts it's head and pulls back its lips to show it's teeth, why is it doing that? When they kind of wave their lip about and it looks like they're having a cheeky smile. I can't describe it very well, but I will look for a picture.

01-24-08, 10:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
Buckskin Member Join Date: 11-05-07 Location: Australia Posts: 125	I think it's called the flehmen response. The horse curls it's upper lip to help pick up pheromones in the air. wikipedia has a great picture of it. __________________ Got carrots?

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

01-24-08, 09:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
horseplay Member Join Date: 01-02-08 Posts: 50	I love when they do that. I don't know why either but it's so comical. You could swear that they're really smiling at you. I also love the nodding head. It's like their own hello.

01-25-08, 02:04 AM	#4 (permalink)
Izzy Member Join Date: 12-29-07 Posts: 37	Yes, that's the one. It's to help make the pheromones pass over the Jacobson's Organ which is located on the roof of the mouth.

01-25-08, 12:13 PM	#5 (permalink)
flatback_frannie Member Join Date: 01-06-08 Posts: 129	Wow, thanks for posting that! That's really interesting. I had noticed my horses do it more when I'm menstrating and they get really friendly. Now I know why!

01-25-08, 09:21 PM	#6 (permalink)
Sugar89 Member Join Date: 01-02-08 Posts: 25	That's the one. Now I think about it, I think I've seen other animals do it too, like my cat when she's playing in the garden.

02-11-08, 07:21 PM	#7 (permalink)
Zorse Member Join Date: 02-02-08 Location: Eastern Ontario Posts: 25	I don't think cats do stuff like that for the same reason. Male cats make this awful sound when those wonderful female scents come their way. Billy goats on the other hand do this like nothing else. It probably the only thing they do under the influence that isn't disgusting.

04-26-08, 05:42 PM	#8 (permalink)
Cadri4n Member Join Date: 04-26-08 Location: Illinois Posts: 50	The curling lip reminds me of that Elvis lip "Thank you, Thank you very much you're a beautiful audience" Men will be men as it seems that mares don't do it as often.

05-01-08, 03:20 PM	#9 (permalink)
Aintree Member Join Date: 04-28-08 Location: UK Posts: 30	Ya mean like this? I think he's singing "Donkey serenade"!! Such a set of teeth, such a personality!