Horse Speak
Understanding and Listening to a Horse.
Horses are remarkable animals. They are capable of showing emotion,
understanding, fear and even trust. The most important thing a human can do when dealing with horses is to be kind and respectful toward them. Here are a few tips to help you understand and communicate with your horse:
Signs a horse is anxious or upset
- Ears pinned back
- Head high with moving feet
- Eyes opened wide, may see eye whites
- High-pitched whinnying or neighing
Signs a horse is relaxed or happy
- Blinking
- Head hanging low
- Chewing
- Licking lips
- A horse resting one hoof slightly on hoof tip
Signs a horse is listening to you
- Blinking
- Ears twitching or pricked forward
Horse sounds and what they mean
- Nicker with a slight raise of head: usually happy
- Snorting: afraid or excited
- Neighing: high-pitched means horse is upset, lower pitched, shorter sounds means horse is trying to tell you something
- Sighing: horse is relaxed
Know what they like (Be sure to check with an adult before attempting these)
- Having necks scratched and massaged
- Treats such as carrots, peppermints, apples, sugar cubes, hay cubes
- Singing
- Speaking to them in a kind tone and manner
Know how to approach a horse
Horses have a blind spot in front of their nose. Approaching a horse
head-on may frighten it. Walk slowly toward a horse from the side.
Know how to lead
- Horses are smart and can sense if you’re nervous or lacking in confidence. Relax and display self-assurance when working with a horse.
- It’s important that you let the horse know that you’re in charge. Being in charge means leading a horse in a respectful manner.
Important: Do not attempt any of the above instructions without adult supervision and permission from the horse owner.
