When I owned my first horse I was pretty much clueless as to how horses communicate with people and with each other.  I would often find myself perplexed when another, more seasoned, horse person would remark about a horse’s attitude.  “How do they know that?” I’d wonder.

Well, thankfully, after years of owning and working with horses I have become much more tuned-in to horse behavior from the sounds they make, their movements, and their body positions.  As with any information on horses knowing what a horse is saying to you improves your ability in training horses and will, naturally, improve your relationship with horses.

Natural horsemanship trainers (as well as other horse trainers) possess highly astute abilities when it comes to reading a horse.  This skill is necessary in successful horse training and is the key to any horse training tips in order to be successful.

But professional horse trainers are not the only ones who benefit from knowing equine behavior cold.  Anyone who spends any time with horses will benefit from being able to identify horse expressions and their meanings.  Besides, it’s just plain fun to watch horses, isn’t it? 

Each week I’ll cover a different body part or area.  Here are some basic ear positions and their meanings (I’m sure you have a horse with its own individual, quirky expressions as well).

EARS:

• Both ears pointing backward and laid tight against the head:  This position is an expression of anger or of warning.  It can also tell you a horse is afraid. Sometimes the whites of a horse’s eyes will be more visible than normal. This position is a threat to move or else you’ll get a bite or even a kick.  It’s pretty normal amongst horses out in a pasture, but you don’t want it directed at humans, or other horses when under saddle.

• Both ears pointing backward: The horse is likely listening to something behind her/him.  It may also mean the horse is afraid.  Some horses do this when they are a bit sleepy (mine lets his flop to either side.) If afraid there will be other indicators, such as wide eyes and head held high.

• Either ear tipped: The horse is being attentive and is listening to something or someone. A horse will do this when listening to something.  For example, when you are longing a horse – if the horse is being respectful and is listening to you – the ear closest to you will be tilted toward you.  When you are riding, the horse will put one and sometimes both ears back slightly to listen to you.  These are good signs that the horse is focused on you.

• Both ears pointing forward or straight up: The horse is on alert and is listening to something.  Often times the head will be held high and tilted a bit forward when curious.  Both the ears and head will be pointed to whatever it is the horse is taking notice of.  If scared, the head and neck will be held very high and straight. (In fear the horse will normally blow or snort).  If you are riding and a horse does this make sure to get the horses attention back on you. 

• Ear back or to the sides (but not flat back):  My lazy, goofy gelding does this one often – ears out to the sides.  This means a horse is bored, sleepy, or dozing.  This is fine out in the pasture on the horse’s own time, but when you are training your horse and/or riding you don’t want this.  It means the horse is not focused on you at all.  It is the equivalent of a pupil staring out the classroom window during a lesson.

Please feel free to add your own experiences of a horse’s ears and their meanings in the comments field below.

See you next week where I’ll cover another body part and its horse language.

* Get your copy of the Equine Body Language Chart