Recently I realised that different horses sniffed me from only one side of their face each time, some always going to their left side, some to their right and a very few sniffing from both left and right.
It was with the recent scientific findings that hit the UK news recently regarding horses recognising peoples facial expressions and in the article they stated the left eye seems to pick up danger more quickly. It's on my blog if you want to have a read with radio interview on BBC Radio Kent. https://melaniehetfield-equineservices.com/2016/02/18/horses-and-humans-facial-expressions/
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We already know left side and right side differences and how horses react differently depending on what type they are. But I noticed that different horses either used their left or their right side and only a very few choose to use both sides. So I started looking at the temperament of the horse and noting which nostril they use to say hello to me with. Our hot horses all used their right only, our quiet passive ones favored the left nostril. I tried to say hello to them going to their opposite nostril, but each time they always switched to the one they used the first time.
There are only 2 horses on our field out of the 34 I tested this out on that sniffed from both sides. These horses personality are indecisive and thinking a lot about everything you do with them, you have to be extra gentle with them else they take to flight.
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Saying hello in Equus, stand out of the horses space right in front of them and reach your head forwards stretching your neck and allow the horse to do the same to you. Blow gently from your nose whilst waiting about the 90% mark and your horse when they choose to will come the other 10% it's at that point they're choose which side they sill say hello with. When they sniff you, blow gently from your nose and then as they breath out gently breath their breath in. As you sniff them make a smile come across your face and blink down then look up at their eyes gently. Keep your eyes soft so not to give a signal to go away.
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Will be interesting for your input on this, which side does your horse say hello and what is their personality like? Are they a left sided thinker or right?
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Hope that makes sense Vicci, not sure if worded it sufficiently enough.
Mel
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Very interesting Mel. Will have to see what Bente does tomorrow but I am pretty sure sniffs with both. Will let you know.
Nika xx
Hi Mel,
Now this is really interesting! Thank you for bringing it up and for the link to your blog, I listened to the item and liked it very much!
You might think most horses being handled mainly from their left side, would place a person at the left to smell what he/she's about. Habit, but as you mention, also brainside. Great thing to exlpore further, thanks again!
Miriam
I need a bit more detail please - you've opened a can of worms Mel lol - I am always highly curious when new knowledge comes in.
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1. "We already know left side and right side differences and how horses react differently depending on what type they are" - do we? Can you explain some more please, do you mean personality when you say 'what type they are' or...?
2. If the behaviour exists in terms of "right nostril = hot horses" "left nostril = passive/quiet" "both nostrils indecisive" what do you think is the physiological/biological explanation for this in terms of how it connects to the horses brain.
3. Regarding the left eye "picking up danger more often" I wonder if that could be possible because (a) humans are the greatest danger to horses (sadly) and (b) as we do all of our handling on the left, that is where the danger is most likely to come from
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Sorry, I can't access your website for some reason Mel, it says connection not secure :-(
Any more info/thoughts on this Mel?
:D, yes lots, but am off to bed now, will make a note to come back and do next week.
Hope you see you at Cheshire??
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Hi Vicci
Point 3, you're spot on. Any danger from humans normally comes for a right handed or left handed person. A quick raise of the right hand, could mean a strike to a horse and they're will respond quickly. The opposite for a left handed person that has hurt a horse the strike would come from the left to the horses right side and you'll find horses that have been mishandled by left handed people the horse will be more head shy and responsive from it's right side.
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As Monty said in the round pen at Cheshire a horse can tell the danger of a lion if it approaches from either the left or right side ;)
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Left or right brained, we know that this is a big point in horse training and managing horses that think differently. So if a horse smells you first from it's right side, it is a left brain thinker can be dominate and know what they want and need stimulus to keep it interesting. Smelling from the left first a right brain thinker needs more care and trust and when both sides are used we have an exceptional thinker. This ties in with the Parelli left and right brain personality testing, but just a bit easier to figure it out :D
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How did you get one with nose sniffing????
Mel
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