Why Do Horses Lick People?
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Why would a horse lick the palm of your hand when you are reaching out to pet him? When I reach out to pet a particular horse, he wants to lick the inside of my wrist up into the palm of my hand, kind of like a dog does. I'm just curious because I've never had that happen to me before.
- Gloria
Horses can lick for a variety of reasons, Gloria. For example, licking and chewing can be a greeting ritual or a submissive behavior. In some cases, horses lick our hands and arms to taste the salt our bodies produce. If the behavior is not obsessive or pushy, it's probably within the scope of normal behavior.