Equestrian Clinics

Listen To Horse Body Language Cues

Do you know what your horse is saying to you? Do you know how to read horse body language?

Obviously, horses don’t speak to us with words, but they are communicating with us all the time. If you learn what their body language is telling us, we can learn to communicate better with our horses.

Swishing of the Tail:

When a horse swishes his tail while you are training on the ground or riding usually means that they are frustrated or annoyed with what you are asking them to do. Sometime, it may just be that they are trying to get a fly off their back, so pay attention to the situation to gauge what the horse is trying to communicate to you.

If a horse is frustrated or won’t do what you ask him to do, it is because you have asked the question the wrong way. Interpret the swishing of the tail as an opportunity to ask your horse to do something in a different way, and see what type of result you get!

The Ears:

The horse body language with ears communicate a great deal of information. Each ear has the ability to “tune in” to something different. When a horses ears are both pricked straight up and forward, they are most likely something has grabbed their attention and they are alert or alarmed. Both ears will be tuned in to what has their attention.

When a horse pins both of their ears backwards is a sign that they are frustrated, annoyed and a warning they may show some aggression. Sometimes when riding, pinned ears may signal that the horse has heard what you have said, but may be in some sort of pain by your request. Take a repeated sign of pinned ears when riding as a potential sign that something is physically bothering your horse. Check his feet, legs, back, saddle fit, etc to rule out any physical discomfort for the reason for a constant pinning of the ears. This happens frequently when you ask your horse for more demanding gaits like a trot or canter.

A horse that has his ears in a relaxed, neutral position in the middle of his head signals a horse that is calm, and paying attention to his rider.

Licking The Lips:

Licking of the lips is a great sign that the horse is interpreting and understands what you are asking of them. You will find your horse licking their lips shortly after you ask them to do something and they successfully accomplish the task. In essence, they are telling you, “I got it!” Take a moment and let the horse soak in this wonderful moment.

Lowering The Head:

When you are working your horse from the ground or from the saddle, look for your horse to lower their head. A high head signals a horse that is tense, nervous or anxious and using the reactive side of their brain. When a horse finally lowers their head, they are telling you that they are relaxed, calm and have accepted you as the leader.

What Does Neighing Mean in Horse Body Language?

A neigh that is high pitched, and loud can signal anxiety or confidence depending on their body language and the situation. When horses neigh when they are in a group, it is usually because they see something “unusual” in the distance and are warning the others of what they see.

A low-pitched neighing, where a horse doesn’t open his mouth is a form of a greeting or hello or “hey, it’s good to see you.” I guess you could refer to this is more of a nicker than a neigh.

Horses have so much to tell us about what they are feeling if we simply pay attention. They will appreciate you paying attention and making adjustments based on what they are telling you. In addition, it helps us understand how important non-verbal communication is to how we communicate with our horses as well. Pay attention to what your own body is saying.