What does it mean when horses groom each other?
Social or mutual grooming, or allogrooming to give it its proper name, is one of the most important social behaviors horses have. While they are of course grooming each other that is more of an added bonus, what they’re really doing is bonding with each other. It acts as a way of reaffirming their bond as well as a way of relieving stress and tension. Horses do groom other horses but you’ll probably find that your horse is grooming one particular horse more than others, this is his closest companion, the one that he really misses when they’re separated.
Studies have shown that while females and geldings groom both males and females in equal amounts, stallions (and colts) tend to groom mainly mares (or fillies in the case of colts). It’s believed that this is part of their ‘courting’ process rather than for bonding.
When a new horse is introduced into the herd, horses will use social grooming as a way of not only bonding but to also establish their position with the hierarchy of the herd.
Conclusion
Horses are as different as people are and while you can apply rules to their behavior each horse will be different. It’s important to know what they’re saying but you have to know your horse to fully understand the subtleties in their actions. For example, if your horse reaches out to touch you with his nose he could be doing any number of things. He could be trying to boss you about, nip you, or is just looking for reassurance. He could just be saying hello which is why knowing your horse is so important.
Page 3 – Interpreting sounds
I hope you found this article helpful. If you did I’d be grateful if you could share it please as it would really help me.
Recommended products
Over the years I have tried hundreds of different horsey products, from various blankets and halters to different treats. Some I’ve loved, others I’ve hated but I thought I’d share with you my top all-time favorite products, the ones I never leave the yard without. I’ve included links to the products (which are in no particular order) that I really think are great.
- Horse Knots by Reference Ready – If you’re like me and enjoy pocket reference guides then you’ll love this knot tying guide. These handy cards can easily fit in your pocket or attach to the saddle for quick reference. They’re waterproof, durable and are color coded to make them easy to follow.
- Mane ’n Tail Detangler – Even if you never show your horse you’ll need to detangle his tail from time to time (and possibly his mane too) which is always a challenging chore! I’ve found that if I run a little bit of detangler through my horse’s tails every few days it stops them from getting matted up and makes combing them easy, even if they’re coated in mud. I don’t know if I should admit to this or not but it also works wonders on my hair.
- TAKEKIT Pro clippers – Over the years I’ve tried a lot of different clippers and while some were obviously better than others I found these to be by far the best. They are heavier than a lot of other clippers but for me, that’s a good thing, it makes them feel more sturdy and hardwearing. On top of that they have a range of speeds so are just as good for clipping your horse’s back as they are his face. I also like the fact that they come in a handy carry case but that’s not for everybody. The company that makes them is super good and incredibly helpful too, a real bonus these days. The only thing I wasn’t keen on was the fact that it doesn’t come with any oil, but that’s not a major problem as it’s not difficult to buy lubricant.
- Shire’s ball feeder – There are so many boredom buster toys out there but I like to use these every day, regardless of whether or not my horses are bored. I find that it helps to encourage my horses to problem solve by rewarding them with treats (or pieces of fruit) but it also mimics their natural grazing behavior which helps to keep them calm and de-stressed.
- Horse safe mirror – This is a strange one that many people are surprised about but I like to put horse safe mirrors in the trailers as well as in the quarantine stalls. It helps to prevent the feeling of isolation by giving the impression of other horses being around. Being herd animals horses can get extremely stressed when they feel that they’re on their own but with these stick-on mirrors, they believe that at least one other horse is with them.
- Rectal thermometer – I know this isn’t glamourous at all but it’s vital for your horse’s well-being to be able to check their temperature and a rectal thermometer is the easiest way of doing this which is why I’ve added it to the list.
Shopping lists
I’ve also put together a few shopping lists of essential items that I’ve found helpful over the years. I’ve broken the lists down into different categories rather than put everything in one massive list 😉
Recent Posts
Pads & Blankets: What Are They And Are They Really Necessary?
When we think about what tack we need, saddle pads and saddle blankets aren’t often at the forefront of our minds. We all know that they go underneath a saddle but there’s still a lot of...
Have you ever wondered what racehorses wear over their eyes, or seen a horse pulling a carriage with its eyes covered? Known as blinders or blinkers, these strange coverings do actually serve a...