Proper communication between horse and handler is essential for all activities done with horses. From riding to trailer loading, understanding what our equine friends are trying to tell us and responding appropriately ensures both have a good experience. What are the ways that horses communicate with us?
Horses communicate with their handlers through the following methods, including:
- Body language
- Vocal communication
- Physical movement such as head nodding or pawing
When you listen to your horse, you take better care of them and improve their quality of life. Continue below to understand more about equine communication and how it can improve the horse-human relationship.
What Are The Key Ways Horses Communicate with Us?
Horses tell us what they think and feel in three main ways: body language, vocal sounds, and physical movement.
Body language is the most familiar tool. Horses move their eyes, ears, and tails in many ways. The way a horse moves their body tells us their mood. A soft eye with no whites (sclera) is relaxed, but visible whites mean the horse is stressed or upset. Swiveling ears mean they are picking up different sounds in their environment. On the other hand, pinned-back ears symbolize anger. The possibility of a bite or kick is imminent.
The head also contributes to how horses communicate. The lower the head, the more relaxed the horse. Licking and chewing are key indicators that a horse is content. The tail also sends messages. A stiff tail signals an alert horse and a loose tail a relaxed one.
Horses communicate with several vocal sounds. Nickers are soft and low, and usually mean the horse is anticipating food or letting other horses know they are around. Whinnies are high-pitched sounds used to call out and search for other horses. Squeals are screech-like and warn other horses that aggression is coming. Snorts and blows are heavy exhales that signal the horse feels trapped, or they may just snort when they enjoy romping in the pasture.
The most common ways horses communicate with physical movement are head nodding and pawing. Head nodding happens when the horse is trying to get their human to bring an item closer, like a bucket. The nodding combined with other signals like eye contact helps grab human attention. Pawing is another attention-grabbing behavior. Horses paw when they want attention or treats, or to ask their handler “What’s taking so long?”
Horses Communicate and Read Our Body Language Too!
Horses communicate with us and can understand us back. A study at the University of Sussex found that horses can interpret dominant and submissive body language in humans, even if they had not seen them before. Researchers found that horses approached people who displayed submissive and calm postures more often than those appearing dominant or aggressive. It is always a good idea to relax around horses because they can pick up on our energy.
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