Animal Behaviour – Equine Body Language
The body language exhibited by animals, horses in particular, is a great method of having knowledge
of equine emotion and how they are feeling at any given moment.
Facial Expressions
It has been discovered through scientific research, that alike humans, horses also use a wide variety
of facial expressions to actively display their current emotion. Just like humans can, horses can read
members of their own species facial expressions to further influence their behaviour and body
language. There are a wide variety of different facial expressions horses can display to express
emotions such as:
Anger / Irritation
Anger, irritation and/or frustration in horses can be caused by a plethora of factors, whether the
horse is experiencing boredom, acting in a defensive or territorial manner or whether the horse is
just in a bad mood. To determine whether or not your horse or a horse you are observing is
expressing any of these emotions, it is important to closely observe its body language and behaviour
for indications such as:
Pinned back, flattened ears is one of the most obvious indications of anger in horses. This is
not to be confused with ears with an extensive range of motion, as horses use their ears to
be alert of their environment and can be manipulated up to 180 degrees.
Baring teeth can also be a sign of anger in horses, usually when paired with flattened ears
and wide or rolling eyes. Horses may also bare their teeth when yawning, taking in scents in
their environment or as a breeding behaviour, therefore it is important to observe the
behaviour as a whole to determine the horse’s emotion most accurately.
Tense facial expressions and posture can also be caused by anger and irritation. Alike
humans, scientists have discovered that horse’s emotions are often written on their faces
using facial expressions. Tight, tense facial muscles and tight lips, head and neck held high,
paired with other body language is a dead give-away of equine anger.
Pawing and/or stamping is often also a display of anger, irritation, and frustration, and in
addition to those, also a sign of boredom. However, when this piece of body language is
paired with any other angry behaviour and/or it is directed at you or another horse/animal,
the common case is irritation.
Although tail swishing or batting is a mechanism used by used to defend themselves from
insect bites, this behaviour can also be a display of anger if the horse is not exhibiting any
happy or relaxed behaviour.
Even though there are specific horse breeds that have visible whites of the eyes, being able
to see this usually indicates anger, stress, or fear.
Flared nostrils are additionally body language most associated with equine anger.
, Happiness / Relaxed
The biggest goal when owning or being in the presence of horses is to ensure that they are
comfortable sharing their personal space and that they are overall feeling happy and relaxed around
you. It is reasonably simple to identify a horse in a relaxed, happy mindset due to their calmer
demeanour and clear cues. To determine if the horse around you is expressing positive emotions, it
is essential to take into consideration and closely observe the body language and behaviour visible to
you. A relaxed horse will exhibit behaviour and body language such as:
A happy horse will communicate that emotion by exhibiting behaviour such as being relaxed,
wanting to play, being engaged and alert and paying attention.
The display of relaxed facial and body muscles along with a relaxed, droopy bottom lip or
jaw, a lowered neck, and head and often the closing of the eyes, can all indicate a relaxed
and happy horse.
Horses that rest on one of their back legs, propping the other up and regularly sighing are
also usually relaxed.
Horses that are happy and relaxed will also have their ears placed to the sides of their head
and will have all the muscles completely relaxed, with limited range of motion.
Behaviour such as their relaxed ears pointing in your direction, staying in your vicinity and
the lack of distraction, all display a horse that is happy and is paying close attention to you.
Quick responses to asked cues, the lack of dragging feet and an abundance of confidence are
additionally great indicators of happy, relaxed, and focused horses.
Only horses who are comfortable and relaxed will show any playful behaviour, therefore if
any such behaviour is exhibited, it is easy to assume that your horse is in a good mood.
