Sugar89

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

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

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.

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Izzy

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

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

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

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

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

Ya mean like this?



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

Such a set of teeth, such a personality!