“Some equine body language isn’t difficult to interpret. Chances are pretty good you understand what your horse is saying when he nickers as you bring him his feed. The meaning of a pinned ear and cocked hind hoof are also pretty obvious. But not all equine communication is quite so clear. Do you know what a clamped tail indicates? What a foal is saying when he clacks his teeth? Even more important, can you recognize subtle signs of fear or frustration before they escalate into a blowup?
Equine body language involves his entire body, from ears to hooves to tail.
This photo reminds me of my first pony, ‘Blondie’! So cute.
Equine body language involves his entire body, from ears to hooves to tail.
Because people rely so much on verbal communication, it’s natural to focus on a horse’s vocalizations when trying to figure out what he is saying. But like many animals, horses communicate much more through postures, gestures and expressions than they do with their vocal cords.
The ability to read and respond to this horse body language is what sets great trainers apart from the rest. From a distance, it may look like these experts are “mind reading,” but in reality, they’re noticing and responding to the subtlest of cues from the horse, both on the ground as well as in the saddle.”
This is all about a healthy balance of sending and receiving signals between the human and the horse. I always say, you can never mislead or fool a horse! They can literally sense your feelings and thoughts through their sense of smell.
