Posted 2013-11-24 8:04 PM Subject: hanging tongue out while eating?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 617
I've had two different vets look at her teeth. They were just done again a month ago. They can't seem to find anything in her mouth yet she hangs her hangs her tongue out when she eats grain. Any ideas why she would be going this??
This is NOT her in the video... but this is exactly what she does.
Posted 2013-11-25 12:25 PM Subject: RE: hanging tongue out while eating?
Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9991 Location: Kansas
I'm going to have to say it's probably an annoying habit. LOL, my mare has one that she does with her right front leg when she eats. I've gotten use to it over the years so it's a natural thing to see for me.
Probably what your mare does, her "quirk" while eating. Lots of horses have them.
Posted 2013-11-25 12:38 PM Subject: RE: hanging tongue out while eating?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 617
It could be a quirk. She did it before and after having her teeth done. Its only when she eats grain. They didn't see any teeth that looked infected or anything....but you can't always see when theres something wrong with a tooth tho :/ I've only had her a year. I also wonder maybe if chewing grain hurts her jaw or something...like a TMJ problem???
Posted 2013-11-25 4:09 PM Subject: RE: hanging tongue out while eating?
A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354 Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas
Theres nothing to worry about just a quirky thing that some horses have, I have one that does this, and he really gets silly when its feeding time. Just a silly habit
Posted 2013-11-26 8:57 AM Subject: RE: hanging tongue out while eating?
Special Somebody
Posts: 3951 Location: Finally horseback again....
Does she hang her tongue out any other time than eating?
It is possible that at some point she may have had her Hyoid apparatus damaged and does not have enough control over her tongue to eat and use it properly. The hyoid apparatus is a thin set of bones and cartilage that connects to the underside of the tongue. It is what allows all the movement. If someone had at one time pulled the tongue too far our of the mouth, tie her tongue incorrectly, ect. it is very easy to damage. The horse in the video you showed had full movement of his tongue, but with damage it may just hang loose to one side. Sometimes horses with damage to the hyoid will hang their tongue out of the damaged side. As others stated it could be a quirk. Ive seen alot of race horses start to play with their tongue out of nervousness or boredom.
hanging tongue out while eating?
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