LICK-n-CHEW: A term coined by horsemen in reference to the natural equine behavior of moving their mouth and tongue in a licking and chewing fashion. It suggests a neurological response to environmental stimuli, indicating that the horse has switched nervous systems from processing right-brain, prey animal instinctual thoughts (ie., fight, flight or freeze) to functioning in the left-brain, learning or "thinking" mode. The lick-n-chew may be a sign that the horse is analyzing information and getting ready to forego its natural prey animal instincts in deference to the human handler's (or lead horse's) authority.