Horse

Like most animals, horses communicate not just with the sounds they make but also through the movements and poses their bodies make. If you are not knowledgeable about reading their body language, it can be a challenge to figure out how they feel.

Horses are visual communicators while humans are mainly auditory. Horses can communicate what they think and feel through how they move their body, similar to how we voice out our emotions by talking. They can express themselves through slight movements of their ears, head, nose, tail, eyes, and other parts of their body.

Here are some examples of horse body movements to help understand what your pet horse might be trying to express:

Head and Neck

Tilted head – if the horse’s head is tilted and it is combined with the ears laid back and nose slightly in, this can mean that the horse is thinking. If the head is extended and ears are laid back with nose out, it might be making a request.

Arched neck – the horse could be mildly alarmed or hesitant, such as when it is in a flirtatious mood with a mare.

Tucked chin/head down – this may mean that the horse is angry or in an aggressive state. It may also be requesting for permission to enter the space of another person or horse. The two are sometimes mistaken for the other.

Ears

Ear flicking – an act of acknowledgement

Droopy ears – this means your horse is relaxed, content or sleeping

Pricked ears – it is awake and alert

Laid back – it may be requesting something or trying to focus on a sound

Eyes

Whites are showing – this means the horse is alarmed or fearful, it can be combined with flared nostrils and the ears are pointed towards the source of its fear. Its head can also be pulled back. If angry, the ears may also be pinned and lowered, and the nose is thrust forward.

Worry lines – your horse may show a series of wrinkles above its eyes. This can appear when it is depressed or in pain.

Tail

Flagged – if your horse is running and its tail is flagged, it could mean it is fearful of something. If combined with a head bob while the horse is prancing, the horse could be feeling delighted and happy.

Clamped – this usually means your horse is scared and is usually followed by a sharp kick. It can also mean it feels cold or wet.

Swishing – your horse may be extremely aggravated, angry, or happy.

Nose

Protruding – this can mean your horse is delighted

Flared – this can mean that the horse is frightened. It may also flare after a heavy exercise or after smelling a
strong odor.

Pinched – this should be taken seriously because it may mean that your horse is in pain or is angry.

Photo: http://i1150.photobucket.com/albums/o612/buzzy_bee_3/horse-sea.jpg

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