Saturday, December 12, 2009

Strange games they would play then

I notice that Yalla is snaking her head up and out quite often nowadays. Does anyone know why? She seems to do it around meal times as well as sometimes out in the field with the other horses. Is it a sign of subservience, a foal trait, an Arabian foal trait, or what? I don't see Annie doing anything to cause it...
Strange games they would play then - song: The Supermen, artist: David Bowie, album: The Man Who Sold the World

5 comments:

Unknown said...

Is she walking around when she does it? Or is she standing mostly still.
Foals strech 60-80 times a day and in various different patterns. It is suggested in young foals (a week or under) their patterns of stretching help to create joint correctness. Stretching can occur when they are recumbent or upright.

Grey Horse Matters said...

I don't know, she's probably just trying out something new to see if it works. Like I want to be boss and that's my food I eat first.

Fantastyk Voyager said...

Sydney, I was hoping you'd answer. You know so much about horses. yes, she is walking around when she does it. Often, she'll walk up to Scout or Nadia, or trot after her mother stretching her nose way up. But, the other horses doesn't seem to be making any overtures to cause it.
Stretching, that is a good possibility. That's why I thought maybe it's an Arabian trait, because in shows they emphasize the swan neck effect with the nose snaked up and out. Whatever, it really is crazy!

GHM- maybe she IS trying to assert herself. Her mother is alpha and she already shows signs of 'mini alpha'. But, she never pins her ears when she does it so I don't know if that matters or not for agressive behavior.

cdncowgirl said...

My first guess was that she is trying to show a bit of assertion.
Now that the horses are in corrals for winter I bring them into the barn so Cessa can have her senior feed and so that I can check everyone over. I've noticed that when I let them back out Voodoo tends to snake his neck and head around like he's reminding them that HE'S the boss hoss.

The Wades said...

I noticed the same pose in one of your more recent posts. You know I don't have a clue. I did enjoy reading the answers here.