If a horse is just lipping you or nuzzling or smooching, it's just using its lips. My stallion loves me, but hates everyone else. He will use his soft velvety snoot to nuzzle and lip my hands or arms or face, but he will use his teeth to nip or full on bite humans he does not trust or like and wants out of his space.
Others have said, but just to reiterate, this horse is showing affection. Remember that horses only have their mouths to 'feel' and 'touch' with, so when they're seeking physical engagement they use their lips and teeth.
💕 Licking is a natural behavior signifying relaxation, contentment, and a deep bond. The horse, in choosing to engage in this gentle act, is communicating not only their physical well-being but also a connection built on mutual respect and positive interaction. How and where does your horse lick you?
Horses will curl their upper lip and press it to the back of their nose, this is called flehmen. A horse does this when it detects an odor worthy of pressing into a sensitive olfactory discrimination area called the voneronasal organ, which is located in the horses nasal cavity.
Much like other pets, horses use licking as a way to show their love! Breathing on you, licking, and kissing are all ways a horse may be trying to tell you how much you mean to them. They also may grasp you with their lips to pull you in, and then lick.
Here's a quick summary of the top indicators of happiness in horses:
Tie the placenta up with baling twine so the mare does not step on it but otherwise wait for the mare to deliver it on her own. Post Parturition Guidelines: The 1-2-3 Rule The foal should stand within one hour of delivery, nurse within two hours, and the placenta should pass within three hours.
If your horse trusts you, then it will happily follow your commands by responding positively to the instructions you give. Likewise, if your horse follows you around, it feels confident that you have its best interest in mind.
During courtship, the stallion will approach the mare, prance, sniff her, nuzzle her, and groom her. The mare may squeal, kick, or move away to show the stallion she is not ready. When she is receptive to breeding, she may stand still, deviate her tail, and urinate, leading the stallion to mount her.
The ears laid flat against the neck, head raised and the horse may lunge at you, whites of the eyes showing, and their mouth open showing their teeth. You should avoid approaching a horse from behind. If you do, they may warn you if they're angry and want you to stay away or go away.
As horse owners, riders and keepers, it is our duty to provide the horses in our care with a species-appropriate life centred around their three essential needs: friends, forage, and freedom.
It's a gesture of connection, trust, and often, mutual comfort. For prey animals like horses, putting their face close to another is a big deal. They don't do it casually.
Biggest sign of love is letting their guard down around you. Not to mention they love gentle nuzzling and will try to "groom" you. The grooming is usually nibbling and you'll have to nudge them away. They'll also just follow you around on their own account.
Praising a horse for a good behavior, or putting the horse to work for misbehaving, is only understood if it happens within three seconds of the behavior. It is a marker of understanding between you two. It gives the horse a frame of reference he needs to eliminate indecision and doubt about what you are asking.
Lick and a Promise: The Equine Seal of Approval
When your horse decides to give you a lick, it's not them mistaking you for a salt block—it's a sign of endearment and perhaps a check for leftover sandwich crumbs. This grooming gesture is a big lick of approval, a wet stamp on the passport of your bond.
A horse that likes you will show signs like soft nuzzling, following you around (not just because you have treats), and a relaxed posture when you're near.
Instead, horses evaluate humans based on consistency, emotional state, and behavioural patterns. Australian equine research shows that horses prefer humans who approach them with calm confidence and maintain consistent behaviour patterns across multiple interactions.
The Dead Horse Theory states: “When you discover that you are riding a dead horse, the best strategy is to dismount.” In the context of business and bureaucracy, the meme refers to a failed project that is nonetheless kept alive by wilfully ignorant management.
Give him a week to settle in, and then work on groundwork and building a connection for a few weeks. It took my mare several months to settle in to a new place, and about 6 months to feel truly comfortable. It can be a lot to take in - a new environment, new horses, new routines, and new herd dynamics.
Horses require appropriate shelter, turnout, companionship, forage-based feeding, clean water, and daily attention to maintain long-term well-being.
Absolutely without a doubt! We have many horses here in training and they can pick up on the tone of voice very quickly… OP, continue to talk to your horses and always praise them verbally. They definitely enjoy it and respond.
A 2010 study found that horses remembered how an individual human behaved towards them based on just one interaction, even as long as eight months later, and behaved better with handlers who used positive handling techniques, such as stroking or speaking in a soft voice.
Losing interest in things is one of the key signs of depression in humans and horses alike. Horses may become withdrawn, expressing disinterest towards their handler and activities which once excited them. Even in their home environment they won't seem relaxed, often seeming distant and on edge.