Do you ever wonder what a horse is trying to say to you?Horses use their vocalizations and body language to communicate with each other.Good horse training involves a thorough understanding of horse behavior and language.Understanding your horse's behavior and language will help you relate to him in a more meaningful way and will deepen your bond with him.
Step 1: Look at the horse's eyes.
Paying attention to your horse's eyes will help you understand how he is feeling.There is a difference between a horse's vision and that of a person.It is important for horses to have a wide view of their environment because they are prey animals in the wild.Horses can have poor depth perception, meaning that they can't always perceive how deep or shallow a puddle is; what we see as a shallow puddle may look like a bottomless pit to your horse.Your horse is alert and aware of his surroundings if his eyes are bright and wide open.The eyes of a sleepy horse are open only halfway.Your horse is sleeping if both of his eyes are shut.It is possible that something is wrong with the other eye if only one eye is open.If the other eye is closed, you may need to call your doctor.In order to get a better view of his surroundings, your horse will move his head in different directions.
Step 2: How your horse's ears are positioned is important.
Horses use their ears to pick up signals from their environment and indicate how they feel about it.Horses can move their ears at the same time.The horse's ears are slightly forward.If your horse has his ears poked forward, he may be interested in his environment.His eyes will widen if his ears indicate that he is being threatened.Your horse is upset if his ears are flattened back.If you see this, move away to protect yourself from injury.Your horse is most likely listening to something behind him if one ear is back.If your horse's ears are to the side, that means he is relaxed.
Step 3: You can watch your horse's facial expressions.
A variety of facial expressions can be made by horses.Changes in a horse's facial expression can be accompanied by other changes in body language.When your horse is sleepy or relaxed, his chin and mouth will droop.The upper lip has a curl.The flehmen response is a useful way for horses to interpret unfamiliar smells.Your horse's upper teeth and gums will be exposed when he extends his neck, raises his head, and rolls his upper lip back and forth.Foals, weanlings, and submissive yearlings will clack their teeth to make sure older horses don't hurt them.The first thing they will do is raise their neck and push out their head.They will put their upper and lower lips together to expose their teeth.If your horse does this, you will hear a clicking noise.
Step 4: The horse is doing something with his legs.
Horses use their back and front legs to indicate how they are feeling.Understanding how your horse uses his legs to communicate is very important for your personal safety.When your horse is impatient, frustrated, or uncomfortable, he will paw or stamp the ground with his front legs.Your horse is getting ready to run or bolt when the front legs are spread out.Your vet will need to diagnose the underlying cause of the medical issues that prevent your horse from standing properly.Lifting one leg shows a threat.A horse kick can cause serious injury if you watch it.Your horse can cock his back leg by resting the front edge of his hoof on the ground.This shows that he is relaxed.Bucking is when your horse raises his back legs in the air.This is often playful behavior, but can also indicate uncertainty and fear, especially if he's being ridden for the first time.Rearing up is a dual-sided behavior.If the horse cannot escape the situation, it can be a sign of fear.
Step 5: Take a look at your horse's posture.
You can see how your horse is feeling by looking at him as a whole.If your horse's back is raised, he could be sore from having the saddle on him for a long time.It's possible that your horse is in pain or nervous.If you don't know why your horse looks stiff, your vet can conduct a variety of tests to find the cause.It's a sign of fear.Your horse may want to run or fight.Give him time to calm down if he does this.An experienced veterinary behaviorist can help your horse overcome his fear.If your horse swings his hindquarters to indicate that he is about to kick, move away quickly.If your horse is female, she may swing her hindquarters to indicate that she is in heat and trying to get the attention of a male horse.
Step 6: Listen to the noises your horse makes.
Horses make a variety of noises to communicate.Understanding what different noises mean will help you better understand what your horse is trying to say to you.There are a number of reasons your horse will neigh.A very high-pitched sound could be accompanied by a lowered tail and flickering ears if he neighs to indicate anxiety or distress.He might acknowledge his presence.A confident neigh will sound like a bugle and will be accompanied by a slightly lifted tail.A nicker is a soft sound.Your horse will make this sound by keeping his mouth closed.A mare will use this sound with her foal.When your horse knows that it is close to feeding time, he may make this sound.The sound is usually friendly.Squeals can be seen as a threat.Two horses are meeting each other for the first time.When your horse is bucking, squeals can be a sign of playful behavior.Your horse will snort when he is inhaling quickly.He could be signaling to himself that another animal is close to him.He could be saying he's excited about something.If the act of snorting gets the horses worked up, you may need to calm him down.Like people, your horse will sigh to express relief.The sighs are different for each emotion: relief, deep inhale, then a slow exhale through the nose or mouth; relaxation, lower head with an exhalation that makes a fluttering noise.There are different things that Groans can indicate.If your horse is in pain, he may groan if he lands hard after jumping a fence.When he's exercising without pain, he might groan.There are more serious medical issues that Groaning could indicate.A horse expert can help you determine why your horse is groaning.
Step 7: Your horse's head should be positioned in a certain way.
Your horse will move his head in a variety of ways depending on how he is feeling.The position of his head is indicative of moods.If your horse is alert and curious, he is holding his head high.A lowered head could mean different things.It could be that your horse has accepted a command.It could also mean that your horse is depressed.If your horse is moving his neck from side to side, he is showing signs of aggression.Remove your horse from something that is making him angry.Move as far back from your horse as you can until he calms down.He is a leader if he is walking or running.He sees people as lower and himself as a leader when he does this to them.Your horse may turn his head to look back at its flank, which could be a sign of abdominal pain or an itch.Unless it is repeated and accompanied by biting, this is not a cause for concern.
Step 8: Your horse is moving his tail.
Your horse won't swat away flies or insects.There are some common tail positions across breeds.A warning for other horses to keep their distance is one of the benefits of tail swishing.If your horse is agitated, he's more likely to swat away pests.While walking away from a horse that has moved in means they have surrendered to a leader, but are not happy about it.When your horse is happy, he will raise his tail.A tail held high over the back is indicative of either playfulness or alarm in foals.A fly on the underside of your horse is a sign that he may be uncomfortable with you.
Step 9: The horse's neck looks and feels.
Your horse will hold his neck in a variety of ways to show whether he's relaxed or tense.You can better understand your horse's body language by knowing the different neck positions.The muscles under your horse's neck can feel loose if his neck is stretched out.If the muscles under your horse's neck are tense, he might be unhappy.