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Pawing (also called "digging")
Reaching out
with a foreleg and then dragging the hoof on the substrate, typically
repeatedly, and usually in the context of uncovering forage or accessing
water. In this example, ponies are pawing snow while grazing. In winter,
horses also paw at ice coatings on streams and waterholes. Also, during
deep winter freezes, when the ice becomes too thick to break by pawing,
horses have been observed obtaining adequate hydration from ingesting snow
or licking the ice. They may paw, effectively chipping ice and then
ingest the chips.) |