Horse Whispering Means Knowing How To Speak Horse Language
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Horse Language - Learn What Your Horse's Body Parts Are Saying
"Horse Whispering" - as it has come to be called - among other things, is the result of relying more on physical communication versus oral. As humans we rely a great deal on words to express ourselves. Body language can be much more telling and, unless your horse is Mr. Ed, reading a horse's body language is necessary in successful horse training. So learning about horses is beneficial not only in improving your relationship with a horse as a rider or handler, but also in training horses.
Did you ever wonder just what your horse is feeling or thinking?
Do you ever find yourself wondering what a specific equine behavior means?
Well, while we may never know exactly what horse expressions are expressing, we can narrow-down the mystery by familiarizing ourselves with some good indicators of just what's on a horse's mind.(In the photo to the right, the horse's eyes are focused and intent, the ears are up and tilted forward. The horse is expectant and/or interested in something.)
Horse Whispering
"Horse Whispering" - as it has come to be called - among other things, is the result of relying more on physical communication versus oral.
As humans we rely a great deal on words to express ourselves. Body language can be much more telling and, unless your horse is Mr. Ed, reading a horse's body language is necessary in successful horse training. So learning about horses is beneficial not only in improving your relationship with a horse as a rider or handler, but also in training horses. Keep in mind
that the information below is a result of observations and experiences of many with experience in working and enjoying horses.
As a horse person, I'm sure you are already aware that horses are as individual as we are from one another. But, like us, there are some key body parts and their positioning that indicate quite well what frame of mind a horse may be in. Knowing these messages greatly increases your safety and the safety of your horse.
Window to the Soul...
LET'S COVER MY PERSONAL FAVORITE, THE EYES.
Content, Satisfied, In a Good Frame of Mind for Riding and/or Training - the eyes will be gentle, they are open but with little or no white showing (the eyes are not wide with fear), they are not fixed or focused intently on anything.Submissive - Again, the eyes will be as in above, but will be averted. A submissive, willing horse is necessary. It means the horse has your respect and is willing to follow you as the leader.
Got My Eye on You
High Interest and Curiosity - The eyes will be intently focused - not wide with fear, but rather fixed on whatever it is the horse is interested in. An example may be a new horse just arriving. Resident horses look on with great interest (just before they begin nickering to greet the newcomer). This is also the way a horse will be as he/she watches you as you bring their feed!
Yeah, whatever (snore)
Bored and/or Tired - Like us, the eyes will be droopy and unfocused. You won't want this look when you are riding or training a horse. It means they are not paying attention and are not in the frame of mind for working with you. Oh NO - Lions and Tigers and Bears - Oh NO
Lions and Tigers and Bears ... OH NO
Worried or Uncertain - The eyes will definitely be focused but will be darting from one place to another. The horse may be trying to work something out. If you are training a horse at this time, you may have to cut back a gradient to a level the horse can comfortably comprehend. Always give you and your horse targets you can win at by working up step-by-step.
Arggggg
Mad or Agitated - The eyes will be merely slits. This may mean the horse has been pushed too much in training, or it could mean you need to establish yourself as the leader and get the horse's respect. As with anything to do with horses, your knowledge of the individual horse and its experiences will indicate to you how to handle the situation. I'm gonna DIE
Scared, Fearful or Worried - The eyes will be wide. The whites of the eyes will be showing and they will be fixed on whatever it is that has the horse concerned. Again, if you are training a horse you need to know what level of fearfulness is manageable when you are, for instance, desensitizing a horse to something it is afraid of. As with working with an angry horse, you may need to take the desensitizing in small steps so the horse's confidence builds up at a pace comfortable for the horse.
As with all body parts and their meaning,
you need to know how they all work together.
For example, when a horse is bored or sleepy, the ears will be floppy. They will usually be lazily angled to either side. The head will be level or lowered and the lower lip will be relaxed and droopy. With this in mind it's a good idea to acquaint yourself with all the body parts and how they relate to each other. In fact, there is a good blog that will be discussing this you can follow over the next few weeks. Plus I will be adding more information on horse training tips and the use of body language in the coming weeks here as well. Horse Training Tips - Know The Meaning of Horse Expressions
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- The Corral
- Horses are amazing. We can never learn all there is to learn about them. Remember, the moment you think you know all there is about any subject, the moment you stop learning. This is particularly true concerning the subject of horses.
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