One copper-colored foal I observed knew how to use this to his advantage. As I watched, he approached his powerful sire, with the obvious intention of eating the grass right out from under his nose. The stallion flattened his ears and tossed his head in a menacing gesture... but the foal began his teeth-clapping, and the stud abruptly dropped his threat. The colt pushed forward, physically pushing against the bay in order to get to the grass, which was no different than the grass anywhere else. The bay again flattened his ears, and issued a stern warning - then stopped abruptly, in response to the teeth clapping. It was obvious that the stallion was not at all happy about the insolent foal grazing practically under his neck, but instinct told him not to savage a foal making the teeth-clapping gesture.

Eventually, the copper colt tired of his game, and moved onto other feeding areas. He didn't notice me moving in closer for a picture, until I suddenly topped a sand dune a mere few feet away. He looked startled, as if to say, "Where did SHE come from!" followed by "Where's mom!" He looked frantically for his dam, issuing a series of shrill whinnies. His mother knew her foal's voice, and nickered to him from a few dunes away. The colt galloped to her side, looked back at me as if to say "That was close!" and began to suckle for reassurance.