He does it after going through his gaits in the round pen, usually when he has lots of energy. He looks at the other horses which are in their pens and snorts in their direction. Is he saying something like look at me, I'm bigger and faster than you? or I'm mad because I'm working and you're not? Or something else? He is occasionally cranky with other horses. He NEVER does it with a rider on! Yikes! I'm not necessarily worried about it, just curious about the behavior, Thanks!
2006-09-07 06:00:15 · 10 answers · asked by bagoftwix 3 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Fight or flight. Making him work in the round pen triggers his "flight" response. After a run a horse will stop with his head high, snortting out to clear his airway of everything, then take in a big breath to pick up the scent of a possible following predator.
Your horse is probably doing it because he's "up" excited and having fun with his own energy and because it's a natural response after running from a "predator", you. When you come at him, shoulders squared mentally and vocally demanding he move off, he sees you take on a predator position. He doesn't do it in the saddle because there, you aren't a predator. He isn't running from you, he's walking/trotting/cantering/running with you. He follows your direction undersaddle. So it's a partnership there, when in the round pen he's by himself running from a predator.
He looks at the other horses when he snorts so he can see if the "herd" is running from the same thing he is. He looks to them to see if he should continue to be on alert. Like I said, it's just a natural response and it doesn't mean you horse is literally shaking in his boots and freaking out. He doesn't know why he does it either. He's just enjoying himself. :)
2006-09-07 07:05:00 · answer #1 · answered by keylime1602 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think he is showing he is the King. Horses are very social and if he is cranky towards other horses he is trying to be dominate. The snort is being a bet of a show off. Or it could be his exercise pen is dusty. More than likely though he is just displaying in a spirited and playful way that he is the big cheese! Just because he is gelded does not mean he doesn't feel superior on occasions! He sounds like he is a lot of fun. Enjoy him!
2006-09-07 06:06:57 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hello when horses gallop they are either playing or stirred up and looking for the danger if they sense danger as they are prey animals they make them selves look bigger to the predator by raising their body and head also to see a further a Field The snorting is a warning to other horses and get their attention something is around that may be a threat . Horses are energy conserving animals and rarely full gallop unless threatened the flight then instinct takes over and the high tail and head carriage is to make the horse look bigger and to intimidate the predator. This is born in the horse .
2016-03-27 01:36:08 · answer #3 · answered by Shelley 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you round pen a horse you areworking his flight response and after they flee from something they will snot to just blow it off and because they feel good.
My ex-racers goes out in the pasture and goes to the end fence and puts his head down and runs for all he is worth to the other end of the pasture and then pulls up at the last second before hitting the ohter fence and will prance and snort and dance all over the place. He feels good.
2006-09-07 08:13:27 · answer #4 · answered by tlctreecare 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had a horse that would look back at the other horses and snort every time i pulled him out of pasture, but he loved to work and be ridden, I think it was a "ha ha your stuck in the pasture" snort...
2006-09-07 06:55:58 · answer #5 · answered by Tess 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well my experience with horse and snorting ( I have worked with wild mustangs and other horses) a horse normally snorts when in his mind he has live through some thing scary . they are kinda blowing out stress. so its usually a sign that the horse was afraid and survived it horses are flight animals and there instinct's tell them to run when danger is near . i hope this helps you out ...
2006-09-07 06:16:53 · answer #6 · answered by Terri M 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"I'm bigger and faster than you?" The angry part requires a level of thought above a horse. He doesn't do it with a rider because then he is not "The big man on campus" When going through his gaits, he is rider less and therefor "The big man on campus"
Vaya con DIOS
2006-09-07 06:05:36 · answer #7 · answered by chrisbrown_222 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
he's doing it because hes probably tired or saying to the other horses "why don't u join me" another words he's saying that he's lonley. and he doesn't do it with a rider because ur in control and he's not by himself. try puting him in the padock with a couple of horses that he gets along with and see if that helps. but the other horse has to be active to .
2006-09-07 12:29:28 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
he might just be saying that he is better or trying to establish that he should be leader or alph male within the pack
2006-09-07 09:33:59 · answer #9 · answered by horsehottie06 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
maybe he has a lady friend you dont know about
2006-09-07 06:09:50 · answer #10 · answered by judy4743 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋