Lip Smacking Habit

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arlowbird

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31 January 2015
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We have two rescue thoroughbreds who get on very well and have virtually everything they could ask for. One, aptly nicknamed Lips, has a habit that he brought with him and it is like water torture! He could have access to all the hay in the world but if we go anywhere near the stables or hay barn he will stand as if in a daze smacking his lips together for as long as I let him. Apparently his previous owner thought it hilarious and rewarded him with a polo mint whenever he did it. I did find it funny at first but now it's driving me crackers. I have tried shouting at him which usually stops him until I go out of sight and I have tried ignoring him but I don't give in to him. Please, has anyone got any ideas how I can get him out of this horrible habit.
 
No ,it's his little habit leave him to it, treat him with kindness it may reduce if it's stress related if he becomes happy and confident in his environment but I think it's likely he will always do it .
 
Urgh that would drive me nuts!!! I think you're going to have to ignor it. Maybe treat it like you would (well I would, others I know don't) any horse that bangs the door for food. If any horse near me bangs the door I walk away from them, leaving them alone. When they are then quiet they get fed (if it is my responsibility to feed them that is).

My friends old horse would bang the door at feeding time for anyone else feeding, but he soon learnt that he wouldn't get his feed (if I was in early morning feed duty) unless he was quiet.
 
This came up the other day in an animal behaviour unit at uni, its a sign of when a horse is unsure about a situation more common in TB's as they tend to be more sensitive. If he's doing it when there is hay in sight, he may well have been deprived of adequate hay in his past when stabled and has made an association which is resulting in his insecurity about the situation. My old racer used to do it, he was over sensitive about alot of things which would result in him doing this, lots of reassurance or avioding the situation that bought it on usually settled him, he never stopped doing it completely though.
 
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