Horses are expressive and communicative creatures with a broad range of emotions. It is our personal goal as equestrians that our horses always be happy throughout their lives. What are some key indicators of horse happiness?
Horse happiness can be measured by
- Body language- licking and chewing, relaxed overall
- Playing and interacting with other horses
- A greater amount of confidence and willingness in mounted and unmounted work
Of course, there are other ways to measure horse joy. These are just some of the most common ones. Learn more about horse happiness by continuing below.
Horse Happiness and Body Language
Body language allows horses to communicate what they are feeling and thinking with their human handlers. How your horse’s body moves around you provides key information about their current state. Horse body language that conveys happiness includes licking and chewing, a supple and drooping lip, deep breathing, sighing, loose tail, nickers when you come near, nipping and nuzzling you and your clothes, and so many more.
Your horse should not be tense or scared when you approach them. If they are showing signs of fear, you should take care to find the source of it. Horse happiness is vital to the success of any horse and human partnership.
Horse Happiness and Social Behavior
Horses are social animals by nature. They were designed to travel in groups and rely on their herdmates for protection and companionship. Domesticated horses love to romp and play with their pasture mates at turnout time. If your horse is isolating themselves, it may be because they are unhappy due to pain, being picked on by other horses, or some other issue that is causing them distress.
Horse Happiness and Work Ethic or Performance
Horse happiness is directly proportional to their attitude toward work or their performance at shows. If a horse is in a negative mood, then they will negatively react to everything around them. This leads to a refusal to participate in work activities and poor performance at shows.
Something as minor as inaccurate aids from the rider can cause frustration and decrease overall horse happiness. If your horse is acting up during training, you may want to see if the methods you use to ask for specific behaviors are causing them stress.
Thankfully, BioPro Armour is here to help your horse stay happy and calm no matter what comes their way. Showing is one of the most stressful things a horse can endure. A blend of thymic proteins and zinc works together to boost horse happiness and keep them calm through immune system support. Click the link above to check it out and try it today, we promise you will not regret it!
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