Brain Teaser

We are all in the winter doldrums around here.  It has been a LONG snowy winter this year.  The horses are bored out of their minds!   I've tried some enrichment activities to keep them busy and they seem to enjoy it.  I have done a "carrot hunt" several days where I hide baby carrots both in the stalls and the pasture.  They catch on pretty quick and seem to have fun checking each tree and fencepost for the elusive carrot.

I have also taken two 5 gallon buckets (with lids) and cut small holes in the sides then filled them half full with dengie.   They knock them on the side and roll them around stopping every few steps to pick up whatever dengie has fallen out.  You have to do this once they have packed the snow down some or they won't be able to roll it.

Hopefully spring will be here soon and they can find other ways to amuse themselves!

Smile!

Toby is demonstrating the "Flehmen Response" for us here.  This action is used by horses and various other animals, including your household cat, to more closely examine scents.  The movement of the upper lip helps expose the vomeronasal organ and draw scents into it.  The vomeronasal organ is thought to be used to detect pheromones which would explain why the "Flehmen Response" is most commonly seen in stallions near mares in heat.

Horses may also grimace like this if they are in pain, usually associated with colic or other abdominal discomfort.  So, if you you see your horse smiling at you from the field make sure that he is just having a good sniff!