Why do horses…? Horse behaviour explained

Sometimes horses do things that leave us baffled. But whether it’s nodding their head, spooking or stomping, we have the answers to help you understand their behaviour.

Why do horses stomp their feet when standing still?

Horses might stomp their feet for a number of reasons. One of them is to remove a fly or object that has landed on their leg.

Stomping can also be a symptom of feather mites that can infest horses with lots of feathering (as their name suggests) and cause itching. However, stomping when standing still can also be your horse’s way of telling you they are frustrated with something you or another horse is doing.

Why do horses nod their heads?

Head nodding is a common behaviour in horses and can be caused by different things.

Horses nod their heads to communicate with other horses and their handlers, such as to show excitement or to get attention. They can also nod their heads to get rid of flies. But head nodding in trot is a very common feature of lameness, especially of one the fore limbs.

Horses who nod their heads excessively, also called head shaking, may be in discomfort due to a toothache or nasal issue, and this should be examined by a vet. Head nodding can also be a sign of boredom or stress, especially in horses who spend a lot of time stabled.

Why do horses sleep standing up?

Horses sleep standing up so they can quickly and easily run away if danger presents itself. They use their ‘stay apparatus’, an arrangement of muscles, tendons and ligaments that work together to help lock their back legs and prevent them from falling over while they snooze. Horses will usually only lie down to go into a deep sleep when they feel safe, such as in their stable or in a herd with other horses to watch over them.

Being able to rapidly flee at the first suspicion of a predator gave the horse a huge evolutionary advantage. Other prey that lacked this ability had to scramble to their feet, so would be a much easier target for the predator.

Why do horses neigh?

Horses have a range of vocalisations that they use to express themselves. Being prey animals, a horse won’t cry out in pain, as this might attract a predator, but they do neigh to communicate with another horse or their owner.

They might also neigh to other horses if they are in a stable on their own, in a new place, or if their companion has been taken away. It is their way of saying ‘I’m here, but where are you?’ and can be an indicator of stress.

If a horse gets separated from their herd, they will also neigh to locate the rest of the herd.

Why do horses rest their head on peoples’ shoulders?

Has your horse ever laid their head on your back when you’re picking out their feet, or rested their head on your shoulder when you’re standing in front of them?

If your horse does this, it could be a sign that they are comfortable and relaxed in your presence and they trust you. It’s their way of showing they like you and want to bond with you. In a way, it’s them showing you affection and letting you know they enjoy being in your company. It’s a bit like a horse’s way of giving you a cuddle.

Why do horses laugh?

Have you ever noticed your horse curling back their top lip to expose their teeth and inhaling through closed nostrils, as though they are laughing? This is actually a behaviour called the Flehmen response, which transfers pheromones and other scents into the vomeronasal organ located above the roof of the mouth.

Horses might do this when they taste or smell something strange or unusual, such as when they are given medicine or a new supplement. You may also notice some horses performing Flehmen when drinking. Horses can also perform Flehmen when they experience discomfort from colic, and in some rare cases, it can be one of the only signs that a horse is in pain.

Why do horses spook at the same things?

Horses are prey animals and will therefore spook and take flight if they feel threatened or frightened. Horses might also spook due to having an excess of energy, a pain-related issue or problems with their vision.

Spooking every now and then at obviously scary things isn’t such a big deal, but a horse that spooks at the same thing over and over again can be a problem. So, why do they do this?

Horses are quick learners and it can take just three repetitions for a horse to learn a pattern. This means it’s really easy to teach your horse to spook at a certain place in the arena or when out on a hack. For example, if your horse spooks when you ride past a certain object, you’ll anticipate him doing the same thing next time, resulting in you becoming tense and anxious. This will then make your horse nervous and more likely to spook at the same object again – and so, a vicious cycle begins.

Desensitisation, counter conditioning and ridden work can help your horse overcome their fear of a specific area or object.

Why do horses nap towards home or their friends?

Napping in horses is where they refuse to go forward and may even spin round or reverse. It can happen in the arena, at home or during a hack. Horses who nap are often suffering from a level of pain, which is why it is important to rule out discomfort in the first instance.

Assuming that the horse is pain-free, the napping may also be due to a behavioural issue. For example, if a horse was once frightened at a certain point on a ride, and their rider put a lot of pressure on them at the specific point, it might make them think that every time they get to that point, their rider will once again put pressure on them, so they’ll avoid going to that spot again.

Hacking alone can sometimes cause horses to nap, as can a nervous or unsure rider. Horses who are strongly bonded with another horse may be reluctant to leave them, so will also nap.

Why do horses scrape their teeth on the stable door?

Just like us, horses suffer from stress and anxiety, and one of the ways they express this is by scraping their teeth on hard objects, such as the stable door, during stressful times. When horses scrape their teeth, they often do it in a side-to-side motion using their upper teeth. Teeth scraping is commonly seen in horses around feeding time when they are anticipating being fed.

Horses who scrape their teeth are more likely to suffer from dental issues such as unevenly worn teeth and even tooth loss, which could make it difficult for them to graze and eat. Finding ways to prevent a horse from doing this, such as feeding them first or opening their stable door and using a door chain at feeding times will help to reduce the dental damage.