Horses don't use spoken words to express their feelings; rather, they use their body and various sounds to communicate. It can be hard for a novice to pick up on what each one means. It's only after spending lots of time with them do you truly start to understand the different signals. You can determine how your horse is feeling by observing their ears, lips, eyes, legs, etc... It can be very helpful to know when your horse is scared, angry, or relaxed. These are your cues to change the situation or keep doing what's working.

Body Language Signals

  1. Ears pinned back: Angry or agitated
  2. Pawing the ground: Impatient, bored, or frustrated
  3. Showing the whites of their eye: Anxious, scared, or uncomfortable with the situation
  4. Swishing tail: Annoyed, swatting at flies, or showing a dislike of something
  5. Ears to the side: Listening attentively
  6. Droopy lip: Relaxed
  7. Stretching out their upper lip: When scratching them, you've found the good spot. They like that!
  8. Cocked back leg: Resting and relaxed
  9. Ears forward: Curious and observant
  10. Tossing head: Bored, annoyed, or uneasy
  11. Tight lips or a pursed muzzle: Stressed or fearful
  12. Kicking or stomping: Angry or annoyed

From their eyes to their tail, your horse is constantly communicating. You'll need to judge the situation to determine what they're thinking and feeling. Once you learn to read your horse's body language, you'll improve your relationship with them immensely!

body language COWGIRL magazine
A grey horse in their stall. Photo by Önder Örtel.

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