Why Do Horses Lift Their Upper Lips?

If you’ve ever seen a horse curl its upper lip and stretch its neck in the air like it just smelled something very strange, you’re not alone—and no, your horse isn’t judging you!

This funny-looking behavior is called the Flehmen response (pronounced flay-men), and it’s actually a very important way that horses gather information about their environment.

🐴 What Is the Flehmen Response?

When a horse lifts its upper lip, it’s using a special organ located in the roof of its mouth called the vomeronasal organ (also known as Jacobson’s organ). This helps them detect scent particles, especially pheromones.

It’s their version of "deep sniffing." By curling their lip, they trap scents and direct them to that sensory organ—giving them a more powerful impression of what they’re smelling.

👃 What Makes a Horse Do This?

You might see the Flehmen response when a horse:

• Encounters a new smell

• Smells another horse's scent, especially from mares or foals

• Sniffs something strange or strong (like new shavings, fly spray, or manure)

• Is just feeling curious and expressive

Sometimes even water buckets, sweaty tack, or your lunch can trigger it!

📸 It's the Ultimate Horse Face

We happen to love this expression—it’s silly, sweet, and kind of majestic all at once. We’ve snapped a few great photos of our TES horses mid-Flehmen, and we’re always excited to explain it to curious campers and parents.

🐴 Want to See It in Person?

If your child is curious about horses, TES Summer Camp is the perfect place to learn all about them—from body language to barn care to, yes, funny faces like this.

We also have a TES Schooling Show on June 8, where you can see horses showing off their more serious skills too!

👉 Learn more about our horse camp https://www.ridetes.com/camp-sign-up

👉 Join us for our next show https://www.ridetes.com/