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 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
   
Location: MD | I had gotten lazy about my horses stop, so I have been re-training a good stop on him for the last month, just checking him once and saying,"whoa" with my voice and seat. every time we stop he turns and sniffs my boots... is my horse just strange, or bored?
and I swear I am clean and there are no funky aromas coming off of me. In case someone wanted to go there. |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | My horses do that all the time. I usually "reward" them by scratching their face with my boot. They quite like it! |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | Maybe he likes stinky feet?
LOLOL just kidding :) |
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| With my mom's old mare, the first thing she would do is put her head down while you were standing there and smell your feet. She sold her and we went to visit her about 5 years later. She put her head down to mom's feet!
I feel like when I'm on one and they do it they are trying to figure out what I'm doing or asking to be done. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 794
| Your horse is trying to make sure it is you. He is saying in his mind "What is wrong with this person on my back they want me to stop on the spot" HUMMMMM must not be my human let me smell and see who is on my back. LOL |
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What Name?
Posts: 1994
| mine does this often as well and he's very young. But he only does it to his left generally. he has nuzzled my foot occassinally as well. I think its a comfort factor for him. That he likes to reaffirm who I am, and he only does it when he's completely relaxed. Never seen him do it with anyone else either. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 713
Location: ND | My mare does this when they call my name right before my run, I think its a comfort thing.. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2457
| comfort and routine ... I flex my horses before we move off, routinely. So when I mount, both my filly and my finished mare, will automatically flex to touch my toes and then wait for the go signal. Sometimes when I ask the filly for a stop and let her rest, she'll start to flex (sniff my feet) and is looking for the "go" cue to keep moving.
I wouldn't worry about it! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 550
| When mine have done that, I always felt like they were asking "Was that right?" I just give them a little scratch & tell them they did good. |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | lindseylou2290 - 2015-04-10 1:01 PM
comfort and routine ... I flex my horses before we move off, routinely. So when I mount, both my filly and my finished mare, will automatically flex to touch my toes and then wait for the go signal. Sometimes when I ask the filly for a stop and let her rest, she'll start to flex (sniff my feet) and is looking for the "go" cue to keep moving.
I wouldn't worry about it!
This was my guess. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Looking back at the cinch, aka smelling of the shoe, can also be a sign of ulcers |
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I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | well, I'm going to guess it's a comfort thing. Possibly ulcers but I hope not, i just treated him in February... he is a worry wart. But he is very much a baby, needs reassurance for most things and lots and lots of confidence building.. I think being in trouble is his worst fear! |
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 Expert
Posts: 4121
Location: SE Louisiana | Like any other animal, horses identify by smell. I've heard it said horses can follow a scent trail as well as most dogs. While it's not the only part of your body that leaves a scent trail, your feet leave the primary deposit. I'm not sure of the reason but in most cases when I received a thorough 'sniff'vestagation by a horse they started at my feet.
Edited by komet. 2015-04-11 6:22 PM
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | komet. - 2015-04-11 6:21 PM
Like any other animal, horses identify by smell. I've heard it said horses can follow a scent trail as well as most dogs. While it's not the only part of your body that leaves a scent trail, your feet leave the primary deposit. I'm not sure of the reason but in most cases when I received a thorough 'sniff'vestagation by a horse they started at my feet.
I agree Komet about the trailing ability---my old horse is partially blind and I've see him trail my other gelding with his nose to the ground like a bird dog! |
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 Expert
Posts: 2013
Location: Piedmont, OK | Mine do it all the time. We call it "smell my feet" lol
And I scratch their faces. |
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shoe sniffing horses....?