The horses that escaped predators were favored by natural selection, thereby passing on their reflex genes onto the next generation. These reflexes have survived through the years and are still present in modern day horses. Reflexes are particularly dangerous to humans because they are subconscious. These reflexes must be overridden so that the horse can be handled and trained safely.
The Suck Reflex
Newborn foals are born with a reflex that makes them search for their dam’s udder and suck. Often if a person scratches the foal on the head it will cause the foal to reach out and make a suckling motion. The nuzzling and nibbling that is often produced by this reflex can easily lead to biting. This means when foals are groomed or handled their need to “mouth” their handler needs to be overridden.
Withdrawal Reflex
The withdrawal reflex causes a horse to jerk its leg up off the ground when they are touched by anything from a fly to a human hand. This reflex is necessary for the horse to protect itself, but it is dangerous for the horse’s handler, who needs to be able to touch the horse’s legs at any point. The horse will need to be trained to keep the leg down, with weight on it, when being clipped, bandaged, and groomed but not so over-trained that the horse stops reacting to flies that land on its legs.
Croup and Perineal Chains
The Croup and Perineal reflex chains causes horses to clamp their tail, tuck the croup into a squatting position, and occasionally kick or buck when the underside of the tail or the anus are touched. This reflex is usually more present in mares than in geldings. This reflex occurs in the wild in response to an attack or unfamiliar touch. This reflex can make it is especially difficult to take a mare’s temperature or care for her during a pregnancy. However, most horses will relax if handled gently and with patience.
Other Reflexes
Horses also have other reflexes that are common. One often seen reflex is the cutaneous trunci chain, which is responsible for the shudder that passes through the horse’s rib cage when a fly lands on the horse. Other behaviors that are the result of reflexes include eye blinking, sneezing, coughing, eye tearing and ear twitching. If horse trainers are aware of the horse’s reflexes they can use them in their training program. Reflexes can be used to help train the horse to react in certain ways and to certain stimuli.
