You’ve probably heard the term “horse-play” from time to time, which is often used to describe when two people are playing rough. But that term didn’t get its name for nothing! Horses are actually big fans of playing, too! From young, foals spend much of their time playing as it contributes greatly to their learning and development. Playing is a common way animals practice their survival skills. As adults, play becomes more of a recreational behavior for horses.
This simple act provides mental stimulation which releases all those “feel-good” endorphins. Horses even have special games they may only play with certain members of the herd. The way a horse chooses to get its youthful energy out may vary by the horse, but here are some common ways horses can play!
Tag/Follow The Leader
Horses are prey animals, which means their instincts tell them to run in a dangerous situation. This is why tag and follow the leader are such useful and frequent games horses may play within the herd. Horses may like these games for a number of reasons, one being that it allows one horse to control the movement of another. This is a sign of dominance which can help a horse rank higher in the herd’s pecking order. Horses are like teenagers, always challenging each other. They rarely take it far enough to hurt one another, which means you don’t have to stress when you see your horses playing these innocent games.
Nip & Shove
This game can be a little more involved, but nothing horses can’t handle! When two horses are biting and pushing each other, they are practicing an old skill. This form of “play fighting” helps males to practice challenging other males. It also teaches them how to defend against these very challenges. Mock sparring may include kicking and rearing too. This form of play can boost a horse’s confidence and give him a sense importance in the herd. This also builds trust between horses, so they can feel more like a family.
Object Play
When they aren’t busy playing games with each other, horses may turn to objects for quick play! Horses get bored easily, so they try to find something interesting to do wherever they’re at. Branches are common objects horses turn to because they can also help a horse get acquainted with the environment.
Another popular object horses play with are rubber balls, but they can really make any object into a toy. Fill a traffic cone with hay or give them a salt block to keep them busy for a while. If you’re looking to add a ball to your herd, just make sure it is too big for your horse to bite. Otherwise, they’ll break the ball before they have the chance to really enjoy it!
Tug-Of-War
This is the preferred game for older horses who prefer to stay in the shade rather than running. If you have other pets who interact with your horses, you might have even caught them playing tug-of-war with each other! Horses love to exercise their bodies and their minds. This game allows them to do both, using strategy and strength to wear out their opponent.
Every horse deserves to have some fun on the pasture! Allowing horses to let loose and play every now and then can help keep their minds sharp and their bodies sharper. Never try to play games with horses that they usually play with each other. Humans are much smaller than horses and could be seriously injured from these seemingly child-like games. There are plenty of other games that are safe for you to play with your horse. If you aren’t sure what your horses like to do for fun, just take a second to observe them and you’ll quickly learn!