Ever watch a horse "smile" at you? This smile is known as the flehmen response and and can be caused by a number of different things. This behavior is characteristic of the lifting of the front lips exposing the teeth for several seconds. It can be a trained response when used with motivation such as food. It can also be an indicator of pain or discomfort. And most commonly it is seen in stallions in correlation to breeding behavior.
Training
The flehmen is a very popular trained trick in horses and can be quite simple for them to learn. Who wouldn't want to teach their horse to smile? |
Breeding Behavior
Stallions typically display the flehmen response when presented with a mare in estrus. It is common to present a stallion with mare urine when trying to collect semen. |
Response to Pain
A flehmen is a common signal when a horse is exhibiting pain. This cue can be seen during foaling or symptoms of colic. |
