Editor’s note: Last month, we at The Horse ran our inaugural “Why Does My Horse Do That?” video contest, sponsored by Zylkene. The winner is Cynthia Malcolm, who sent in a video of off-the-track Thoroughbred “Shorty” licking “Candy,” her Belgian-Paint mare after a meal. Cynthia is receiving a Zylkene prize pack, and renowned equine behaviorist, Sue McDonnell, PhD, Cert. AAB, of the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center has watched and evaluated the video so that we can all better understand Shorty’s behavior.

Well, just why would a horse lick another horse in this manner?  

The first thing that comes to mind with this type of licking is a need or desire for salt or other mineral accumulated on the coat of the pasturemate from sweat evaporation. If he doesn’t already have access to a salt/mineral block, I would just put one near where he is fed, and see what happens. I would guess he would find it fairly quickly and divert his licking to that.  

I would also watch to see if he does it only after meals. Whether he takes to the salt/mineral lick or then stops licking his pasturemate, I would also consult with an equine nutritionist to be sure his diet includes sufficient salt and minerals and adjust if needed.  For example, continue to provide the free-choice salt/mineral lick. If it turns out that his diet should be providing adequate salt and minerals, but he still seems to be licking excessively and taking in more salt and/or minerals than needed, I would suggest you then consult your veterinarian to explore whether there might be some medical condition causing undue interest in and intake of salt or minerals