How to Read a Horse's Face and Body Language

Just like your human friends, your equine companion has moods and bad days. Unlike your human friends, your horse weighs upwards of 1000 lbs. and could easily and unintentionally hurt you in his irritated or frenzied moments. Here's a checklist to help you get in tune with your four-legged friend.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Facial Expression

1. Alert, curious and playful. First and most easily, you'll recognize your horse's attitude by the position of his ears. This is a perfect starting point for those who are unaccustomed to being around horses. Generally, ears pointing forward indicate a friendly or curious attitude, or just general interest. Ears that are laid backwards and flattened against the horse's head are a warning--horses use this posture to ward off unwelcome guests and assert their authority. If the horse becomes aggressive or defensive, flattened ears will accompany bared teeth, biting or kicking. Ears that are relaxed towards the outsides of the head mean that your horse is neither alarmed nor anxious, but calm and comfortable. These cues do change from one moment to the next, however, so be aware of possible disturbances such as loud noises or unfamiliar objects that might take your horse by surprise and adjust accordingly.
2. Listening for instructions. There are some exceptions to these general guidelines. You should remember that first and foremost, your horse is angling her ears (either together or independently) to best hear what is going on around her, to understand your intentions and to ascertain the safety of her surrounding environment. I have seen many a beginning equestrian become alarmed at their horse's ears turned backwards while they are in the saddle. This is simply your horse listening to your vocal cues and keenly paying attention to your movements in order to interpret your commands.
3. A threatening posture, ears flattened and head low. Other facial features that should be noted are the eyes, which can also move independently or in tandem. Horses can see a good deal around them, with blind spots only directly between their eyes and behind their rear end. So, although he is always watching to see what you're doing, he should appear relaxed and observant. In a horse that is comfortable and has not been conditioned to be anxious in its familiar surroundings, the eyes will have a "soft" appearance, with eyelids open but not strained and only the iris (colored part) of their eye visible--sort of the way your Labrador might look at you when he's hoping for a back scratch. A horse that has been abused, is confused, frightened or out of his element will show anxiety and tension through his eyes, with eyelids peeled wide and the whites of his eyes flashing as his vision darts around, anticipating a source of danger.
4. Uncomfortable and anxious when asked to move forward. Nostrils are an important component of a horse's expression too. Mostly, you will be able to tell by her heavy breathing or snorting that she is agitated or nervous, although horses will flare their nostrils wide and take big whiffs of anything that they are unfamiliar with. When introducing them to a new object or person, you can expect them to take several moments to sniff and decide whether to accept what is presented. After investigating it, they will generally either relax and go about their business or begin to pace and show signs of anxiety if they perceive the thing as threatening.

Tips & Warnings

• Interacting with horses is an inherently dangerous activity and the nature of the animals makes them unpredictable, even for the most seasoned professional. This activity is undertaken at the rider's own risk, and should only be attempted while wearing adequate safety gear and under the supervision of an experienced instructor.