Basic Horse Knowlege
We see pictures of horses grazing out in the field and we surmise that horses live there alone with very little attention from humans. Horses can be sometimes misunderstood by people who know nothing about their behavior. Unless you are around horses on a regular basis, you will not know how they act or the safety issues involved when being close to a horse.Movements, body position and calls are all forms of communication with horses. Just sit and observe your horse for long periods of time and you will begin to see the horses language to other horses and to humans. Don't misunderstand ears that are pointing back to listen to you with the "flat" back ears which means anger. The ears of a horse always point in the direction that he is paying attention to. If you are riding him, you want one ear pointed at you. If his ears are flat back against his head, it means he is afraid or angry. Ears that move front and back continuously means he uncertain what to do.
Horses are herd animals, so their instinct is to run from danger and stay within their heard for protection. Communication is very important with any animal. Since they cannot learn how to understand us, we as owners of horses must learn their behavior instead. Horses, like many animals, have a strong since of self-preservation. With some good training and an experienced rider, a grown horse can learn to follow directions rather than following their instincts. Trust is the main ingredient for this to happen. Spend time with your horse and always react in the same way every time with patience.
Facial expressions are another way to read what a horse is thinking. A wrinkled nose can mean disgust and annoyance. When a horse bares his teeth with an open mouth, it means he's about to bite. A long nose and tight mouth show anxiety and fear as when they are being taught something. When he figures out what he is trying to be taught, then his mouth will relax and he'll began to chew. A long nose with a slightly open mouth shows that the horse wants to be groomed and also to groom in return too.
The tail is also a way to read your horse. A high tail means excitement in a horse while a tail that is flattened and between their legs means fear. A tail that is lashing about is a sign of irritation and annoyance. A sort of "kinked" tail is often a sign that your horse is about to buck, especially if he bows his back up at the same time.
These are just a few ways that you can begin to communicate with your horse. Trust and positive interaction is the key. Since people are verbal, we often don't want to try to understand other forms of communication, but as horse owners we need to at least try to learn ways to improve how we react with each other.
posted by Posh Pampered Pets @ 4:29 PM
<< Home