Horses read human body language to determine what the specifics of their circumstances are and how they should frame their reaction. Horses are excellent people trainers. They know more about how to make humans do their bidding than humans do horses.
How Horses Look at Humans
Horses place humans in one of three categories,
- A predator
- A herd member, or
- One of absolutely no importance.
Horses run from predators and ignore those without value. Herd members will be evaluated and considered to be either higher in status, lower in status, or of equal status. A horse’s body language and behavior tell the story of where we fall in their estimation.This is certainly not a complete list, but may help you figure out what your horse is telling you.
Decoding Equine Behavior
Q: When a horse looks at you and starts to swing its head from side to side is it just being funny?
A: No. Usually it is a challenge and you should consider it disrespectful.
Q: When a horse walks up and lays its head on your shoulder is it being ‘loving’ or pushy?
A: Pushy. Horses should respect the space around a human. Horses may be invited in for a big hug, but it should not be the horse's idea.
Q: When a horse pins its ears, what should you do?
A: Take control of the situation. The horse is either warning you, warning another horse or animal, or reacting to a distraction, like a fly or bee. Either way, it is no longer politely being attentive to you.
Q: Why do horses paw?
A: Horses usually paw because they are uncomfortable or unhappy. It can be a sign of pain or one of boredom or frustration.
Q: Is it ever okay to let a horse lift its hind leg at you, even if it just raises it and then puts it back down?
A: Rarely. If it is a momentary reaction to a fly it's not a big deal. But even then, the horse should be able to control itself when you are next to it. Anything else is opening the door to a kick. One exception is if the horse is responding to pain.
Q: When a horse decides to turn and walk away from you, what is the message?
A: You have been dismissed as unimportant.
Q: When a horse pins its ears, is there a difference between one that holds its head really high and one who leaves its head really low?
A: Yes, but a response is still required. A horse who pins its ears and keeps its head low is giving an early warning. A horse with pinned ears and head high is about to deliver a kick, bite, or whip around to deal with a situation.
Q: Can a horse think through a situation with its head and tail raised really high?
A: Usually, no. This is the posture of a horse who is either very excited, or deciding whether to fight or run. The horse is not relaxed, and it may come out with a BIG reaction. Determine what caused the alert and defuse the situation if necessary.
Q: When a horse raises its head and curls up its upper lip, is it smiling?
A: This is called the Flehman Response. It usually means the horse has smelled or tasted something meaningful, whether good or bad. It is a stallion response to a mare in heat as well as the response when a horse smells nasty perfume on you.
Q: What does it mean when a horse is standing on three legs, with a hind leg cocked?
A: First, is the one closest to you cocked? Horses standing on three legs are either resting or in 'strike' position. The best help to understand what your horse is telling you is to know your horse. Is he relaxed, or telling you to move very, very carefully?
Q: What does it mean when a horse raises its head up really high and stands still like a statue?
A: It means its brain cells are all fixated on one thing. This is a potentially dangerous situation. Get its attention back on to you, or get out of the way.
The Good, the Bad, and the Dangerous
Happy horses are relaxed. They are soft in their bodies, their heads are low, they lick their lips and blink regularly. Any type of stiffness is a signal for you to pay attention.
Horses are creatures of habit. Knowing what is normal for your horse is the best way to diagnose a new issue. When your horse has a change of habit, watch for issues of health, or determine what is important enough to make your horse break its routine.
Never let a horse move its rear end toward you unless you have specifically trained it to do so and have made a specific request. In every other case it is a sign of disrespect. It is fair warning as far as the horse is concerned.
It is a marvelous opportunity to be able to quietly watch herd behavior. Notice how the mares treat their foals, how they use body language with their herd mates. The body language horses use with each other is the same they use with humans.
Your horse will never master English, so make it a point to learn how to better communicate with it - learn to understand equine body language.
Lynn Baber - Lynn Baber, Christian writer specializing in leadership, relationships, and all things equine.
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