Interesting Facts about Horse Behavior That you Might Not be Aware Of

At present, a countless number of people around the world love the amazing sport of horse riding. Some people consider it as a serious career option, while others do it for adventure and adrenaline rush in their leisure time. Many people keep horses as herd animals in the stable. While several families opt for this popular outdoor activity to explore the beautiful countryside landscapes and natural wonders on the trail during holidays and expeditions in a ranch.

However, knowing the behavior of the horse is important for reining, guiding and controlling it while riding, circling, spinning, and stopping. It will also help you to give them commands and make them obedient, read their mind, master the riding techniques, have the most exhilarating time in the saddle and even buy the best stallions. We have put together some interesting facts that many of us don’t know about horse behavior in terms of natural behavioral traits, body gestures, and unique features of the ears.

Natural Behavioral Traits

Being a social animal a horse conveys its sentiments and intents through vocalization and body language. Hence, you need to read its body language to become an adept rider. If you are a novice and interested in the sport of horse riding, enroll for the lessons on horseback riding Utah and learn how to read its body language for handling it.

• Horses exhibit neurological maturity soon after their birth. Being advanced precocial species, they flee away when they spot danger and get frightened.

• Horses can be dominated or gained control over when they are caused to move by us when they don’t like and we obstruct their movement when they want to escape.

• Horses forgive however they don’t forget bad experiences and situations. Hence, you need to make sure your first horse riding experience is positive and fine.
  

Body Gestures

• Horses very strongly depict exactly what they are feeling through their body gestures and signals. Body gestures are important things to know before buying a horse from a buyer’s perspective.

• If the tail of the horse is high, it indicates it is alert or excited.

• If the tail of the horse lies low it means it is exhausted, frightened, tormented and docile or meek.

• If the tail of the horse is placed high above its back it indicates it is in a playful mode or alarmed state of mind.

• If the horse is swishing it is annoyed or irritated.

• If the legs of a horse are pawing it indicates it is frustrated.

• If one front-leg of the horse is raised or lifted, it suggests it is doing it out of mild threat.

• If the back leg of the horse is elevated it indicates it is doing it out of defensive threat.

• If the horse is stamping it indicates it is in the state of protest against insects or flies biting its legs.

• If a horse is snapping it specifies it is being submissive to an older horse

• When the jaws are open with teeth being exposed it suggests it is aggressive and can onslaught anytime.

• When the nostrils are widened it means they are alert or excited

• When the stallion smells something intense or unusual, it shows the Flehmen response in which it sticks its nose in the air and waves its upper lip above its nose.

• When the horse is showing white around the eyes, it signals it is angry or scared
  

Unique Features of the Ears

The animal belonging to the equine family shows some rare and unique behavioral features through its ears. Here are some of them.

When a horse is drooping its ears, it is doing it out of tiredness or pain. While drooping its ears it simultaneously hangs down loosely to the side.

When a horse is showing airplane ears, it suggests it is tired or depressed. During this time, ears flop out sideways with openings facing down.

When the ears are stuck flat against the neck it indicates it is angry and hostile.

When a horse positions its ears backward with the opening directed back towards a rider, it means it is obedient and prepared to listen to the commands of the rider or ready to be controlled by a rider.

To learn about the behavior and body language of the horses precisely, get in touch with Rising Trail Rides. The leading ranch provides comprehensive lessons on horseback riding Utah.