ktv
Nose Bump
Mary Ann Simonds teaching nose bump
In the world of horses, even though cultures vary horses set up a communication system by who can enter whose space, and horses that live in stalls get used to just having humans walk in and do things with them.
So, they develop behaviors like biting and getting pushy and stepping all over us.
We can teach the horse proper etiquette in the horse’s language and the first thing is when you enter the horse’s face they should be able to make eye contact with you.
If a horse doesn't make eye contact, you need to get their awareness.
A lot of times people say don't feed a horse or touch them in the nose because they'll get bitey, and that's just not true.
Horses use their nose just like an elephant would.
They use it for communication, and we can teach horses polite communication with us.
In mares, they'll use a nose bump to just do a gentle greeting with other horses and with their foals.
With male horses like this one, they use their nose bump a lot more for play and oral stimulation.
And so male horses are more oral but not giving the horse an ability to communicate.
Properly, we'll create biting.
This is a horse that we can teach how to nose bump so he doesn't want to bite to get our attention.
Once the horse learns that he can communicate with you through a nose bump politely, then they don't bite.
