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How Horses Use Their Incredible Sense of Smell

Writer's picture: Jaclyn StoerzbachJaclyn Stoerzbach

A Horse’s Nose Knows: The Power of Scent

Horses have an extraordinary sense of smell—one that far surpasses that of humans and even rivals some dogs. Their olfactory system plays a crucial role in their safety, communication, and emotional well-being. At Borg Farms, we understand how important a horse’s ability to smell is for their health and happiness in a natural pasture environment.


Horses Have More Olfactory Receptors Than Dogs

While humans have about 6 million olfactory receptor cells, bloodhounds—famous for their tracking ability—have 50 times more than that. Horses are believed to have even more!


What Can Horses Detect by Smell?

Horses use scent to gather vital information about their surroundings. With just one sniff, they can determine:

✅ The sex of another horse

✅ The health status of that horse

✅ Their social rank within the herd

✅ The identity of a familiar horse

✅ The emotional state of another horse (nervous, aggressive, calm, etc.)

In addition to other horses, horses rely on smell to:

  • Locate water sources

  • Identify predators and potential dangers

  • Follow scent trails

  • Recognize familiar humans—even after years apart

  • Find their way home by detecting familiar scents in the air


How Horses Greet Each Other

Instead of shaking hands, horses greet each other by sniffing noses. This breath exchange allows them to identify and assess one another. If the introduction goes well, they continue by sniffing each other’s flanks and tails.

At Borg Farms, we provide a natural pasture boarding environment that allows horses to interact, smell, and communicate as they would in the wild—which helps reduce stress and promote well-being.


The Flehmen Response: When Horses Curl Their Lips

Have you ever seen a horse curl its upper lip back and lift its head? This behavior is called the Flehmen response, and it helps horses analyze smells more deeply. They use this technique when encountering new or particularly strong scents.


Two Noses? The Vomeronasal Organ

Horses actually have two olfactory systems. In addition to their primary nose, they have a secondary system called the vomeronasal organ (VNO). This consists of two long tubes inside the nasal cavity, extending 5 to 6 inches. Originally evolved in aquatic animals, this organ helps horses detect chemical signals in their environment.


Why Smell is Important for Boarding Horses

At Borg Farms, we prioritize horse-friendly facilities that support their strong sense of smell, including:

Clean, natural pastures free of toxic plants

Secure feed storage to prevent food-related stress

Fresh water sources available at all times

Herd-friendly boarding that allows natural scent-based interactions


Fuego on a frosty morning
Fuego on a frosty morning

By respecting and understanding how horses use their incredible sense of smell, we create an environment that reduces stress and promotes their overall happiness.

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14150 Herring Rd

Colorado Springs, CO

80908

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Contact

309-351-4917

Borg Farms Equestrian Center & Horse Boarding in Colorado Springs CO

Mon - Sun

8:00 am – 8:00 pm

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