The Equine Language

Horses live in their own special world, which overlaps considerably with the human world. They have their own form of communication that is perfectly tuned to other horses, but which is sometimes difficult for some humans to interpret. Horses have a language that humans can learn, but it takes effort and patience.

Horses communicate primarily through body language. They have postures, small gestures, and full body motions that express a range of thoughts and emotions. The horse can use almost any part of his or her body to make a statement, and it is important that humans understand the intelligence that forms the basis of this ability.

One of the main instruments of communication for the horse is his ears, and they are employed to send very clear messages. When he raises his ears erect and stationary, he is indicating excitement of a positive nature. When his ears flutter back and forth, he may be signaling a low level of nervousness. Humans interacting with horses would do well to take note of any motion in their ears, and what these might signify.

Another body part used by horses to communicate is their tails. You should be pleased when you see your horse's tail relaxed as this usually indicates that the horse is content and confident of its safety. However, it may also indicate your horse is listless or even befuddled. If a horse raises its tail at the root, this can mean he is either curious or apprehensive, whichever makes sense given the circumstances. Since each horse has its own unique personality, he will react to a particular situation in his own way, and so you need to observe the tail movements over time to understand what your specific animal communicates with any particular motion.

Horses can use their own footwork to indicate everything from nervous jitters to frustration to outrage. Obviously a horse that kicks is in a dangerous state of mind. They are using their feet to show extreme emotion, possibly fear or anger. They must be dealt with carefully, and humans must respect the size and strength of an animal that is trying to communicate dissatisfaction in such a physical way.

Watch your horse?s neck and head for clues about his happiness and alertness. Even the body can be used to express feeling. Watch for twitching skin, different breathing patterns, and whether your horse is standing at attention or turned around to pay attention to something to one side (or within). Your horse?s head, neck and body can give you clues as to contentment, anger, jealousy and even illness.

Humans and horses are capable of bonding with each other, and horses are quite able of expressing genuine devotion to those with which they have such a bond. It is because we and horses both belong to the mammal family, and both retain the characteristic tendency towards communicating our inner states, that we can have such a relationship. We people seem naturally wired to look for signs of communication in other species, no matter how subtle, and despite the non-verbal nature of such communication. And so some of us who interact with horses put energy into understanding them.

Because horses are so highly evolved, each displays an observably unique personality in a similar way to that of its owner. It is in the nature of their domestication and native intelligence that they wish to delight and serve their keepers. Horses have accepted human beings into their province, and in doing so, have chosen, as a species, to communicate with them even as they would with each other. It is up to us humans to reciprocate and claim the benefit of such a gift.

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