Your horse is always “talking”—but are you listening?

Understanding equine body language is essential for building a safe, trusting partnership. Horses communicate primarily through posture, eyes, ears, and subtle shifts in tension. When you know what to look for, you can prevent problems before they escalate—and deepen your connection in the process.

In this blog, we’ll cover five essential signs to watch for and what they’re trying to tell you.

🧠 Signal #1: Ears

• 👂 Forward: Alert or curious

• 👂 Pinned back: Irritated, defensive, or overwhelmed

• 👂 One ear back, one forward: Splitting attention—often listening to you and something else

📝 Tip: Pay attention to when the ears shift—especially near new environments or pressure points.

🧠 Signal #2: Eyes

• 👁 Soft and blinking: Relaxed and thinking

• 👁 Wide with visible white: Fear, surprise, or distress

• 👁 Staring or frozen: Hyperfocus—watch for a possible spook

📝 Tip: A horse’s eyes often signal changes before the body reacts.

🧠 Signal #3: Mouth & Jaw

• 😬 Chewing or licking after pressure: Processing and calming

• 😐 Tense mouth or grinding: Stress or confusion

• 💤 Yawning: Could be a calming signal—or release of tension

📝 Tip: The mouth is a great indicator after a learning moment—did they “digest” the cue?

🧠 Signal #4: Tail

• 🐎 Gently swinging: Relaxed or in rhythm with movement

• 🐎 Swishing hard: Annoyed or reacting to flies/pain

• 🐎 Clamped down: Nervous or bracing

📝 Tip: Look for tail signals combined with ears or posture to better interpret meaning.

🧠 Signal #5: Overall Posture

• 🐴 Standing square, cocked hind leg, relaxed neck: Calm

• 🐴 Stiff body, raised head, braced muscles: Alert or uneasy

• 🐴 Fidgeting, pawing, or shifting weight: Impatient or unsure

📝 Tip: Watch the whole horse, not just the head—tension often shows in the back or feet first.

🎯 Student Challenge

Spend 10 quiet minutes just observing your horse from outside the paddock or stall. Write down three things they do with their body and what you think it means. Then observe during grooming or groundwork—did the signals change?

🖼️ Want a Visual Guide?

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