Horses will use body parts individually or together to convey different messages, such as pain, anger, discomfort, excitement, or irritation. It is important to remember that horses are prey animals, so it is their instinct to choose to flee in a fight or flight situation. This instinct must be taken into account when interpreting their body language. By paying attention to the subtle movements of the various parts of your horse's body, you will be able to understand your horse and meet its needs and insecurities.
Horses use their ears to communicate in a variety of ways. Your horse's ears can be turned forward, clamped, outwards, backwards, or quickly.
The following guide can help you understand what each action means:
If your horse's ears are cocked forward, it usually means that your horse is relaxed. However, if the ears prick forward sharply, it means your horse is alert and paying attention to something interesting or scary.
If your horse's ears are flat on the back of his neck, it means your horse is angry and aggressive.
If your horse's ears are to the side, it usually means that your horse is relaxed or sleeping and may not be interested in what is going on around him. When the horse is in this position be careful not to startle them. Instead, call their name or make a sound to get their attention.
If your horse's ears are cocked back but not clipped, it means your horse is trying hard to listen to the sound behind him. If combined with a wagging tail or other signs of physical tension, ears turning back can be a precursor to ear clamping.
5. If your horse's ears turn rapidly, that is, turn back and forth, it means that your horse is in a state of high anxiety or alertness. Your horse may be trying to identify scary sounds or smells.
When horses are relaxed, their ears point in the direction of their attention. This means that a horse with its ears pointed back may simply be paying attention to what's going on behind it, without becoming angry or aggressive.
By observing the horse's head posture, you can get an idea of the horse's mood. Your horse's head may be low, elevated, or serpentine.
Here's a guide to help you understand what each pose means:
If your horse's head is hanging down, this is a sign of relaxation or feeling good. When the horse's head is in this position, its ears usually hang to the side. Also, if your horse is in a stable, a lowered head position may indicate that your horse is sleeping. Be careful not to startle the horses.
If your horse's head is raised, it is on alert and trying to decide whether to run away, investigate, or ignore. To prevent your horse from running away, try calling him by his name to refocus his attention on you.
If your horse's head is snake-like, that is, slightly bowed and swung back and forth, this is an aggressive behavior. This is a red alert. Try to defuse the situation by refocusing the horse, leaving the area, or moving away from the horse.
Your horse's eyes will tell you what your horse is thinking and where his attention is focused. Your horse's eyes may be relaxed, tense, fast-moving, or they may show the whites of their eyes.
Here's a guide to understanding your horse's eye movements:
If your horse is relaxed, its eyelids will relax and you will not be able to see the whites of its eyes.
If the muscles around the eyes are seen tightening, i.e. the corners of the eyes are tightened or the upper eyelids are wrinkled, this is an early sign that the horse is upset, fearful or uncomfortable.
If you see the horse's eyes rolling rapidly, that is, swaying from side to side, it means that he/she is frightened and is looking for a way to escape. If your horse feels trapped, it may react by biting or kicking.
If your horse shows the whites of his eyes, that is, his eyes are wide open, he is only slightly frightened or startled. However, some breeds of horses, such as Appalosa and Pinto horses, always have the whites of their eyes clearly visible. Therefore, showing the whites of the eyes is natural and not a sign of panic.
A horse's nose and lips can tell a lot about what it's feeling.
Your horse's nose and lips may be loose, curled, and open, or they may be pinched or tight.
Here's a guide to determining what each signal means:
If your horse is standing still with a drooping lower lip, i.e. slack, it is relaxed and/or probably sleeping. Be careful when approaching a horse so as not to startle it. However, if your horse is awake and his lower lip is still loose, this could be a sign of a neurological problem. If this happens, you should take the horse to the vet.
If your horse's upper lip rolls up, it means your horse is sniffing an unfamiliar scent. When a horse smells an unfamiliar smell, it raises its head, rolls up its upper lip, takes in air through its mouth, and exhales it through its nostrils.
If your horse flaps its nostrils, there are two conditions. Or out of breath, trying to take in more air; Or it's accompanied by a tremor, which means your horse is nervous or frightened. Your horse's nostrils will only open when he is working. If your horse is not working, then nostril flapping may be a sign that something is wrong. You should have your horse examined by a veterinarian.
If your horse's nose and lips are tightly pressed or pressed (which is a more subtle gesture), then your horse is either worried, nervous, or scared. Try to keep your horse away from the area to alleviate the situation.
You can also find out how your horse is feeling by looking at his mouth and teeth. Your horse's mouth and teeth may be grinding, rattling, or have gaps.
Here's a guide to determining what each signal means:
Teeth grinding can be a sign of a variety of conditions. Your horse may be nervous or in pain or discomfort.
Teeth biting is often used by young horses or foals as a means of communication. If a young horse is gritting its teeth, it usually means that it is signaling to other horses that it is still a child and does not want to be hurt.
Opening your horse's mouth to show visible teeth can mean several things. If your horse bares its teeth along with its ears and eyes, it is showing anger and may be about to bite. If your horse opens its mouth when you ride, the REINS and buckles may cause it pain. Finally, if your horse suddenly stops eating and stretches his neck to open his mouth, he may be choking. Either try to remove uneaten food or call a veterinarian immediately.
Horses breathe through their nostrils, so they can only breathe through them. If your horse is trying to breathe through his mouth, there is a problem. Please call your vet immediately.
Your horse's front legs can be extended, planed, pedaled, or percussive.
Here's a guide to understanding your horse's front legs:
If your horse's front legs are open, that is, the front legs are apart to the sides and the body is leaning back, then your horse is scared and may run away in a few seconds. Splayed legs can also be a sign of malnutrition or nerve damage, especially if the horse is unwilling or unable to move. Call the vet.
If your horse is tied, the horse hoof planing, that is, the front leg in the soft ground to create an arc, this may be a sign of boredom, but also the horse is tired or ready to leave the signal. If the horse is nervous in the trailer or before feeding time, hoof planing may be used. Horses also use their hooves when they are angry, but this is not common. However, if the horse cocks its ears at the same time, this is a sign you need to watch out for. This is a sign of anger or aggression and is usually followed by a charge or some kind of attack, such as biting. Knowing your horse's normal behavior can help you figure out if your horse is stomping because of it.
If your horse stomps, that is, forcefully lifting and lowering one foot in place, this is a common sign that the horse is irritated. It could be something small, like a fly, or something big, like your horse getting frustrated with what you're doing.
If your horse is kicking its front leg, that is, kicking forward hard, this is a sure sign of anger or aggression. Before that, horses usually stomped or dug the ground with their hooves, opened their eyes wide, and cocked their heads. If this happens, be careful.
A horse's hind legs can be cocked or raised.
Learn how to judge different signals with this guide:
A raised hind leg may be a sign of rest, pain, or irritation. If your horse places the leading edge of his hooves on the ground and lowers his hips, he is resting; This is usually accompanied by a head down and ears hanging to the sides. If the horse quickly shifts its weight from one side to the other, it means the horse is in pain. On the other hand, if your horse is frustrated or on the defensive, he will rear up, raise his head, prick up his ears, or put his ears back.
If your horse raises his hind legs, cocks his ears, or wiggles his head, it's a sign that he's frustrated and annoyed and ready to kick.
The tail is a highly fluid sign of communication. Your horse can raise or swing his tail, tuck his tail, or swing his tail quickly.
The following guide gives you an idea of what each signal means:
A cocking or swinging tail indicates that your horse is excited. This is when the tail is higher than the back. Horses with their tails up usually don't pay much attention to you and are easily spooked. Regain the horse's attention by calling its name and putting it to work.
Clamping the tail, that is, the tail down or between the hindquarters, is a sign of nervousness or stress. In addition, if your horse clips its tail while riding, this is also a sign of discomfort or pain. Make sure your horse's harness fits properly. If the movement persists, contact your veterinarian.
If your horse wags its tail gently, this is just a sign of fly control. However, if your horse wags his tail from side to side or up and down quickly, this is a sign of anger and frustration, and a precursor to the horse slapping or kicking. On the other hand, if your horse wags his tail frequently while riding, this may be a sign of discomfort; Make sure the harness is installed properly and that no sharp or protruding edges injure it
By reading a horse's body tension, you can tell if the horse is relaxed, tense, or scared.
Here's a guide to understanding these behaviors:
If your horse's muscles are stiff and his movements are stiff, then he is either nervous, injured, or stressed. Assess the situation to find out what is causing the horse stress and remove the horse from the situation.
If your horse is trembling, that is, shaking all over, this is a sign of fear.
Paying attention to warning signs, such as urging behavior or swinging the hindquarters, can create a safe and comfortable space for you and your horse.
Here's a guide to knowing the warning signs:
1. If your horse sticks its beak out to touch you, it may bite you. Or, it might just be interested in you. Your horse may also be nervous and may reach out to you for comfort. However, if your horse pushes you with his mouth, it shows that he does not respect you because you have not yet established your leadership position. Horses are social animals, used to hierarchy and structure. You need to establish dominance so that your horse doesn't push you around.
1. If your horse swings his hindquarters from side to side, this may be a warning sign that he is about to kick. However, if the horse's hindquarters wiggle is associated with tail lifting, back and forth wiggling, and urination, and the horse is female, then this is likely a sign of estrus.
There are four main signs of equine vocalization. They are: the pump and the whine, the hiss, the scream and the grunt.
Here's a guide to determining what each means:
When a horse hisses or purrs, the horse is announcing its presence. He also neighs in recognition of other horses nearby.
2. The mare usually uses a "chirp" or soft guttural sound to encourage her baby (the foal) to eat.
3. Screams are often used to indicate threats and may occur if you introduce two horses to each other.
4. Horses snort to signal danger, or to alert other horses that an unfamiliar animal is getting too close.
To figure out what the horse is trying to tell you through body language, you need to put it all together. Consider all of your observations and what they might mean when combined.
For example, if your horse is showing stress through both its ears and legs, then you can tell he is stressed.
Knowing your horse's personality and normal behavior will help you figure out if this behavior is typical of your horse or if your horse is trying to send you some kind of message.
Don't be afraid to ask for help or advice, especially if you are new to equestrian. Ask someone who grew up around horses or an equestrian expert who can teach you about horses.
