Equine Body Language or Equus - The signs to look for

Equine Body Language and the signs to look out for.

Your horse can't communicate verbally, but you can use equine body language, just like your horse does with you, to gauge how your horse is feeling by observing the way it stands and focusing on its most expressive body parts.

Clydesdale Horse Breed Every animal signals subordination or submissiveness using body language instinctively understood by their own species.

Horses give subtle signals when they are willing to submit to a dominant leader and you should learn this equine body language as quickly as possible to ensure your horses training goes well.

Once you learn to read your horses body language, you can use it to your advantage. Use it in your training to make things easier for the two of you, and to help ease your communication. You'll make difficult tasks easier for yourself and training sessions more productive.

Horses ears serve as a radar for horse owners and let you know how your horse is feeling. When you've been around horses for a while you'll start to look there first to get a feel for what your horse is thinking or feeling, and what you need to be ready for.

The signs to look out for :

Mood	Expression / Signals
Agitated or Anxious	neck outstretched and snaky - ears pinned - eyes closed slits - muzzle pursed - stomping, striking or kicking and tail swishing.
Bored	head down - ears held at half mast - droopy eyes - slack muzzle - inactive or disengaged legs and feet - tail low or still and overall disinterested feel.
Challenging	head and neck stretched up and out, may move slowly back and forth - ears very active - eyes focused - nostrils flared and muzzle active: lipping, chewing - prancing legs and tail held high,swishing - overall tense and collected stance.
Content	head held steady, neither high nor low - ears neutral - eyes open unfocused - legs natural possibly one foot resting - tail relaxed with some casual movement - overall relaxed casual stance
Curious	head and neck extended toward curious object - intently focused forward - eyes intently focused - nostrils sniffing and blowing - muzzle pursed - legs planted - tail held up - stiff movement.
Expectant	head shakes, neck snakes - ears darting - eyes dilated and attentive - nostrils quivering - lips smacking - legs pawing - tail swishing - overall restless appearance.
Fearful	head turned toward source of fear, neck pulled in - ears fixed on source or flicking if source has not been identified - eyes wide open with whites showing they should be fixed on the scary object - nostrils flaring and snorting - legs frozen - tail clamped - overall attitude of readiness to flee. Will crouch, back up or wheel away and present hind legs in a defensive attitude.
Submissive	head held low and averted -ears held at half mast - eyes averted - muzzle low, clamped with lip smacking or chewing in foals and yearlings - overall placid body posture.
Uncertain	head up, neck tense - ears flicking rapidly back and forth - eyes darting, with unfixed focus - nostrils quivering - legs may be frozen in place or moving around gingerly - body tense, alert, possibly sweating.

Table HC.1. Equine Body Language Signals

Don't forget your voice ?

As well as using your horses ears as guides to mood you can also influence your horses reaction and response times by using your voice.

Your horse can hear up to two miles away and its ears will be processing massive amounts of input at all times unless you use your voice to focus their attention.

Learn to manipulate your voice at different times so your horse knows what is happening at that moment.

If you're doing something important and you need their full attention lower your voice a little, speak a little louder or sound a little more authoritative. All animals (including people) respond to this. You'll be surprised how quickly your horse will learn which tone of voice means work and which means food.

When it's time to relax and you can play use your normal voice to let your horse know it's okay to relax; that they don't have to listen so closely anymore.

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