Equestrian Article

Deciphering Your Horse's Body Language

The first thing you should look at carefully when you are trying to determine your horse's mood is his ears. A horse can move his very mobile ears forward, backwards or even sideways according to his current mood. The position of his ears alone is not a 100% accurate reflection of what he is feeling, but the combination of the way he moves his ears, arches his neck, swishes his tail and moves his feet, you will be able to discover exactly how he is feeling. My stallion always pulls his ears flat back when I approach him, and I used to think this meant he is angry and that I should take care. Not at all. He eventually made it clear that he wants me to approach him and even hug him, but after all he IS a stallion, and a famous bull-fighter and every one should respect this fact. Including me.

A contented horse has ears that point slightly back, but are not flattened to his head. His eyes have a tranquil expression, eyelids may droop if he is taking a nap and his head is slightly bent. He stands with all his weight on three of his legs. His teeth are hidden by his lips which are soft and his jaw is relaxed.

A curious and alert horse may be happy, but he is not calm. He is excited and inquisitive about his environment. His ears are mobile so that he can catch every sound and his head is slightly lifted so he can see better. His eyes are attentive and seem to take in every detail. He makes sure he has your attention, but the sounds are purposeful, not anxious.

If a horse holds his ears flat against his head, get out of the way. This is a warning sign that a horse is going to bite or kick, either another horse or a human, depending on the cause of his upset. Besides flattening his ears to his skull, an angry or aggressive horse will stretch his neck and nostrils, open his mouth, and pull back his lips to reveal his teeth.

It is crucial to recognize signs of fear in a horse. When a horse is about to loose control, his ears will point at the thing that is alarming him. This means his ears can be forward or back, so watch out! Instead, look at his eyes. The whites will be showing and you'll see the fear in his eyes. And when he is about to bolt he will throw up his head, his nose pointed to the sky and let out a high pitched squeal.

These are some of the more obvious ways a horse will use his body to communicate with you or another horse. There are, in fact, endless varieties and nuances of the above that makes the language between horses rich and fascinating. Trying to understand my horses has also made me more aware of other people's body language, and my own!

And remember, a horse reacts to you according to your own body language. If you reveal you fear and uncertainty to your horse, he will neither trust nor follow you. If you have lost your riding confidence, make time to rebuild it, for both your and your horse's sake.

Ride with supreme Self-Confidence

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