BODY LANGUAGE & BEHAVIOR OF HORSES

Horses are herd animals and prefer the company of other horses, dislike being alone. Within the herd, they establish a hierarchy, with the leading horse given priority at feeding. Leadership is not always based on size or age but on the ability to influence others. Horses are social animals with different personalities and temperaments. They communicate with each other through body language and can read people's emotions and moods.

With a good memory, they can remember things and events for a long time. They are used to routines and can become anxious at changes in their environment. As escape animals, they avoid conflict and prefer to flee if they feel threatened, only fighting if they are trapped and unable to escape.

Of course, horses are adapted for an active life and have excellent vision to scan their surroundings. In the wild, they spend a lot of time roaming and eating grass or hay. They are resistant to both cold and heat and adapt their coat to the weather conditions, with a thick winter coat and a thinner summer coat. Despite their resistance to cold, they are less tolerant of rain and wind.

BFF

• Horses thrive best in the company of other horses and often form close bonds with their mates.
• Some horses develop deep friendships and enjoy spending time together in the paddock or stable.
• Close friends may even allow each other to stand much closer than other horses without becoming irritated.
• A common activity among horse lovers is to stand and scratch each other and cuddle.

The horse's mood

• A relaxed horse usually lowers its head and lets its ears hang slightly.
• Excited horses raise their heads and perk up their ears, ready to act at the slightest sign of danger.
• Excited horses can show this by trotting away with their heads high and tails in the air, sometimes snorting loudly and pricking their ears at the cause of concern.
• Impatient horses may start stomping around in place or scraping their front legs, often as a reaction to frustration or a desire for movement.

CURIOUS & INTERESTED

• Horses are naturally curious and often come forward to investigate their surroundings.
• They are interested in various phenomena and can even become curious about small details, such as a hen moving outside the box.
• When they see something interesting, they often raise their heads and prick their ears to take in information about their surroundings.

WHEN The horse wants to be left alone

• When the horse turns its hindquarters towards you, it often indicates that it wants some privacy and to be left alone.
• If the horse is not respected, it may raise a hind leg as a warning signal.
• If the threat is ignored, the horse may resort to more forceful actions such as kicking or kicking out to mark boundaries.
• Another sign of wanting to be left alone is when the horse turns its head away, especially when it feels overstimulated by petting or brushing.

AN IRRITATED HORSE

• Horses can show irritation by scratching behind their ears, especially when they want food or when other horses are too close during feeding.
• If the other horse does not move voluntarily, it may become irritated and take measures to make it move.
• Even when a horse is showing irritation, there can be subtle differences in expression, where one horse may look bored while the other is clearly irritated.
• When the handler is handling the horse, improper touch or excessive pressure can lead to irritation, shown by ears that are laid back and a swishing tail.

WHEN THE SITUATION FEELS THREATENING

• If the threat is not taken seriously, the horse may threaten by stroking behind the ears, a signal that there is potential for aggression.
• If the situation escalates, the horse may prepare for an attack by stretching its neck and opening its mouth, which requires caution on the part of humans.
• Horses can also threaten their handlers, and it is important to create a relationship of trust and security to avoid conflicts.
• Unintended behavior such as handing out treats can also lead to threatening reactions from the horse and should be avoided.