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The Nature Of The Horse

Understanding horse behavior will greatly help you when riding, training, or any time you are around horses. Horses are prey animals, and without correct training will rely on their instincts when they perceive danger. To communicate with them we must watch how they behave around each other, in new environments, and with us.

Body Language

Equine body language is made up of a large range of body movements and facial expressions. Much of what horses are feeling can be read in their face and ears. Small shifts in body weight and position can tell you what your horse is thinking of doing next, or in the case of a kick or bite warning you before he acts. Usually, when a horse feels threatened he will lay his ears back, his lips will be pressed tightly together, he will turn his rear end toward you, and tuck his tail all before he actually kicks. Some people don’t know how to read their horses and this can cause problems. Each horse is different and will develop his own way of communicating based on his experiences. Overall, horses will use similar signals to “talk” to other horses and humans.

Social Animals

Horses are herd animals and feel safest when with other horses. Wild horses travel together in small groups called bands. Horses in each band work together to keep each other safe. Some horses will rest while the others graze and watch for predators. When a band of horses does get attacked the whole group will run together, giving each horse less of a chance of being picked out and eaten.

Fight or Flight

A horse’s natural reaction to danger is first to run then to fight. Each horse is different and some will be more reactive than others. Horses first use their hearing to sense danger. Their ears swivel 360 degrees and allow them to hear noises that we cannot. When horses are worried about something they will lift their head, face the direction of the noise so they can scan the horizon, point both ears in that direction, and smell the air. If after a minute if the horse doesn’t hear, smell, or see anything of danger he will lower his head and go back to grazing. If he does think there is a threat he has already alerted the other horses with his body language. The other horses have now become alert and start to run if they think danger is around. Once they run a short distance away and feel safe enough, they will stop and turn around to see what the danger is. Domesticated horses react in the same way when scared by a spooky corner in your arena or a plastic bag.

Understanding horse behavior will allow you to better communicate with the horse when riding and training or even in everyday interactions. For more information on horse behavior refer to my other articles Communicating with Horses One and Two.