Horses were first domesticated over 4,000 years ago and quickly became the backbone of human civilization. Their ability to pull plows and haul heavy loads allowed for an increase in agricultural output and that had profound consequences. If a farmer can feed his own family and some other people, too, those other people are free to get into lines of work other than farming. Horses have also proved themselves useful in the realms of transportation and warfare. But people have also long admired horses for their own sake, keeping them as companions rather than working animals.
On the whole, horses are placid herbivores, but they do sometimes engage in strange behaviors. “Stable vices” are a common issue, particularly for horses that spend too much time inside, not getting enough exercise and consequently becoming bored. Prime examples are: chewing wood, biting on wood while sucking in air, rocking back and forth repetitively, wall kicking, pacing obsessively, pawing the ground, and eating food too quickly. The best cure for stable vices is to prevent them in the first place, simply by making sure the horse gets outside frequently and has plenty of pasture space to roam around in. But even horses that receive proper care and have nice, big pastures can still develop… Eccentricities.
A young filly enjoys having her hindquarters scratched. Her owner’s brother, it seems, is particularly good at this and she loves it when he comes to visit. As you’ll see in the video we’ve posted below, she just can’t get enough of the scratching. After one little session, she backs up toward him demanding more. When he finally insists that scratching is done for now, the horse has a hilarious and surprising reaction!
If you had hooves, is this how you’d send a message? Let us know in the Facebook comments and don’t forget to like and share!