Any time that we find ourselves talking to another person we unconsciously read and understand each others body language. Should someone that we are talking to become upset or bothered by something we will know that something is wrong just by looking at them. This same type of relationship is needed with your horse as well. Having at least a basic understanding of the body language and facial expression of your horse is very important to the relationship between you and your horse.

Over millions of years the horse has become a vital part of the animal world. Through out nearly the entire existence of this herd animal, the horse has been the prey of other animals. This is why all horses can become spooked or easily frightened in new situations or due to quick or loud actions around them. There instincts tell them that nearly everything is hunting them in one way or another.

Since the horse is a herd animal that does make it a very social animal, in fact, that’s likely be to the reason that horses allow you to ride them, the horse views to be the dominant member of its herd. As we coax the horse into following our commands, they will follow our commands and not think about why they should do as we wish.

As the horse is a very social creature, they have created a form of communication with each other. Since they see the rider as a dominant member of the herd they will show the rider the same types of facial expressions and body language that they will show other horses. If you learn these things then you will begin to see a large number of the different emotions and even attitudes that the horse is trying to express to you as a member of their herd. In the beginning of things its best to focus on these four basic expressions of the horse.

Relaxed: Its easiest to work with a horse that is in this mode and that’s why it’s a favorite! In this expression your horse will be calm and very obedient as it holds it head in a very neutral position and may even nod a bit as the two of you interact. A horse that is acting in this way is very pleased with the environment that its in and you will find that your horse will respond to your commands smoothly. Paying close attention to the body language of your horse and trying to see the world through their eyes will make it easier for you to understand most horses.

Alert: Since we know that horses have been prey for other animals for millions of years it should be no surprise that your horse will be watching for predators even when there are none. In this expression your horse will be holding it head high with its eyes open widely and ears pointing forward. You may see that your horse seems to be watching for something or as though it is expecting something to happen. This alert expression may quickly turn to being a fearful expression or even back to the relaxed expression once the horse feels that everything is ok. When riding in a line, the horses in the front will often remain in this alert expression for the entire ride as the leader of the group is expected to be more alert and in charge of the horses that follow it. Should you watch a line of horses pass by you will often see that the front 1-2 horses will have their heads held high in this alert expression and the horses that follow may actually lower their heads in a very relaxed expression, putting their full trust in the front horses.

Threatening: As a horse can weigh well over a thousand pounds a threatening horse can be frightening for us, unless we know what to do. There are many different reasons that a horse might become aggressive and you need to take these things into consideration. Your horse may be experiencing pain of some sort. It might not like to be ridden or handled in any way. Should a horse be malnourished it may become distressed and confused until it has eaten properly and give water and proper care. In this expression you will see a horse that will have his head raised but not in an alert fashion, the horse may bare its teeth and flare its nostrils with its ears pinned back. If you see the horse acting in this way it might be a better idea for you to try approaching the horse later. Should you choose to continue then you are putting yourself at risk for being severely injured by the horse. Even the most experienced person can make this mistake by becoming overly confident around the horse or horses and not paying attention to their body language.

Afraid: Horses can be very easily scared or spooked. In this expression you will see a horse that will throw its head back and you can clearly see the whites of its eyes. If your not out on the trail then you might have come to the horse too fast or there is something that is scaring it that you don’t yet know about, like a snake. Its important to reassure the horse by talking to it in a very soft and calming manner. Petting the horses body and face slowly and gently will help as well. Don’t try to work with a horse that is in a frightened state or you may end up with a horse that become aggressive due to fear.

Author: Cindy Green
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Duty tariff

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