🐴 Why Horses Lick and Chew

A Guide to Understanding the Deeper Meaning Behind This Behavior

by Smith Horsemanship

 

✅ What Does Licking and Chewing Actually Mean?

We’ve all been told that when a horse licks and chews, it’s a good sign—that the horse is “relaxed” or “submitting.” But the truth is more complex.

Licking and chewing is a release behavior, not an obedience signal. It often indicates that the horse’s nervous system is shifting from a state of tension or alertness (fight/flight) into a calmer, more thoughtful state (rest/digest).

It’s not the gesture that tells the story—it’s what happened right before it.

 

📖 Natural Example from the Herd

In a wild or pasture-based herd, you’ll often observe this:

Two horses have a brief conflict—maybe posturing, pinned ears, or a small chase. One horse yields, and the other walks away. Moments later, the first horse drops its head and begins to lick and chew.

This isn’t submission. It’s a sign of the horse mentally processing the event and returning to a calmer emotional state. It’s a nervous system reset—not a sign of giving up.

 

🧠 What It Can Mean in Training

Depending on the context, licking and chewing may indicate:
 

Situation                                                                           What It Might Mean

After high pressure or confusion                                   The horse is relieving mental stress, not necessarily learning

After a soft release at the right time                             The horse is processing understanding

After being forced or overwhelmed                              The horse is emotionally retreating or submitting under tension

After finding clarity with light pressure                        The horse is engaged and mentally checked in

 

🚫 Common Misconception

Many riders believe licking and chewing = “the horse is happy with what I just did.”
But if what you just did involved too much pressure, confusion, or missed timing, then the horse might be licking as a way to self-soothe, not because they feel good about the interaction.

 

🛠️ How to Read the Lick and Chew Correctly

Ask these questions before you celebrate the lick:

• ❓ Was your pressure fair and consistent?

• ❓ Did you release at the right time?

• ❓ Was your horse soft and relaxed before the lick—or only afterward?

• ❓ Did they shut down and then lick? Or stay mentally present and engaged?
   

Look at body language alongside it:

• Soft eyes, dropped head, and forward ears = positive processing

• Wide eyes, tension, or freezing = possible stress response
  
   

✅ What to Do as a Trainer or Handler

• Don’t chase the lick and chew. You can’t force it.

• Create moments of clarity that give the horse space to find the right answer.

• Release early, reward small tries, and observe what your horse is doing emotionally, not just physically.
  
   

🧭 Final Thought

The lick and chew is not the lesson—it’s the reflection.
And your horse is telling you how they felt about what just happened.
You’re not just training behavior—you’re shaping the emotional tone of the partnership.

 

📲 Want to Learn More?

If this helped you look at your horse differently, you’ll love our upcoming online course at smith-horsemanship.com where we dive deeper into:

• Horse psychology

• Pressure and timing

• Building trust-based partnerships
   

📩 Or follow us on Instagram @smithorsemanship for weekly insights like this.