Why Do Horses Experience the Zoomies?

What exactly is a zoomie? A zoomie refers to a sudden surge of energy that horses sometimes display. You might observe this phenomenon in the pasture when your horse starts galloping around wildly. The scientific term for this behavior is Frenetic Random Activity Period. It occurs when a horse has been holding back energy and finally releases it by sprinting as fast as possible, tail held high, and sometimes even kicking up their heels a couple of times "for giggles."

What causes horses to get the zoomies? Horses experience zoomies for reasons similar to why dogs do – they simply can’t contain their excitement! Zoomies often happen when a horse is feeling playful and full of energy. This is especially common if they’ve spent most of their day confined to a stall and are let out during a cool evening. The refreshing air feels and smells amazing, so why not run around like crazy to enjoy it and stretch their legs? With the flies gone, the sun setting, and the calmness of the evening settling in, it’s easy to see why horses feel invigorated. Cooler weather tends to bring out frisky behavior even in the most composed horses. Approaching storms can also stir them up enough to start zooming around the pasture. Has your horse ever broken free and dashed around, seemingly playing “you can’t catch me?” Chances are, you couldn’t catch them until they ran out of steam, right? And most likely, their tail was raised high while they did it. That’s because they were experiencing the zoomies! Your horse was just so thrilled and proud of their escape that they couldn’t hold back their excitement. This behavior isn’t limited to escapes, though. Sometimes, horses would rather zoom around the pasture playing tag than be caught. Horse Zoomies Best Zoomies from r/Zoomies These playful zoomies can also occur after a horse is turned out following a riding session. They’re thrilled to be back in the pasture, free and unrestrained, eager to kick up their heels and reunite with their friends. Zoomies are a completely natural and healthy behavior for horses to express. When you notice your horse entering "zoom-mode," it’s important to stay out of their way and maintain a safe distance. If you know your horse frequently gets the zoomies, take a moment to walk around their zooming area to check for any holes, rocks, or objects that could cause injury. When the zoomies hit, horses often aren’t paying attention to where they’re going. Horses love to run, play, and have fun too! Sometimes, they build up so much excitement that it all bursts out at once. Have you ever seen your horse get the zoomies? If you were lucky enough to witness it, hopefully, you managed to capture it on camera!

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