Funny Things Horses Do

Being a goof must be a requirement of horses. They do the silliest things! At least, they’re entertaining for us to watch. You never know what they’re going to do. From the funny faces to their unusual behavior, horses are always making us laugh. If you spend enough time watching them in the field or barn, you’ll likely agree!

Funny Things Horses Do:

Scratch on Everything

Especially during shedding season, it’s common to see your horse scratching their bodies and butts on every surface they can find. They sometimes even scratch themselves on one another. It’s cute to see horses grooming each other with their teeth. They seem to hit the right spots because it’s not uncommon for them to make funny faces during it.

If you want to be your horse’s best friend, give them a good scratch. You’ll know you hit the sweet spot when they arch their neck and give you a special ‘aaahaaa’ face. They’re likely to follow you around begging for more!

Pass Gas at Awkward Times

Don’t be surprised if you go to pick your horse’s back hoof only to have them fart on you. It’s bound to happen at least once! They’ll also do it to the farrier. There’s nothing you can do about it but laugh!

Additionally, they seem to enjoy passing gas on the move. Have you ever seen a horse galloping across the field only for them kick out and toot at the same time? That’s a favorite of most horses.

Roll Right After a Bath

This one might make you cry instead of laugh, but others are likely to find it hilarious. You’ve given your horses a good bath and they’re squeaky clean, and then they locate and roll in the biggest mud puddle when you turn them out. The white and gray horses are extra clever. It might just be me, but I think they give you a special look afterwards as if they know exactly what they’re doing.

Curl Their Upper Lip

Known as the Flehmen response, a horse will lift their upper lip and reveal their teeth when they smell something new. It’s quite silly to see in person! It’s actually very normal and natural for horses to do though. Some trick trainers reward the behavior so they can teach the horse to do it on command. It’s definitely a crowd pleaser! Everyone chuckles when they see it.

Play with Toys

Much like a dog, horses can play with toys like balls and buckets. I’ve even known a horse that will carry his grain bucket over to his caretaker for food. He’s quite the charmer as he begs for treats and grain. Others will grab a rubber jolly ball with their teeth and toss it around. There are oversized balls that can be kicked and jumped on too.

They Prove You Wrong

Maybe you’ve experienced this… You talk your horse up to your instructor or friend only for them to act the total opposite. They have no problem making their riders look silly or foolish. This is another one of those ‘you’ll laugh about it later’ situations. 

Step on the Hose

This silly maneuver proves that horses are actually masterminds. They seem to know that if they step on the hose that the waters stops and thus the bath is over. Not only do they step on it, but they also plant their feet down and refuse to move.

Okay, so some the funny things horses do can also annoy us. In time, you’ll look back and laugh though! Think about it this way… If horses were perfect and did everything they were told, they’d be awfully dry and boring. Their shenanigans keep us entertained!

 

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