| The well-honed senses of the Arabian may be | | | | just like they can ruin our hearing. The Arabian's busy |
| sharper than other breeds and they are definitely more | | | | ears move towards sounds and can move together |
| refined than ours. If we understand their sense of sight, | | | | or independently. Because horses can hear things we |
| smell, hearing, and touch we will be able to more | | | | can't, we should be more 'tuned in' to them. If your |
| effectively handle these beautiful horses. | | | | horse won't go somewhere you want it to, they may |
| The most important rule in handling an Arabian is to | | | | hear something you don't. |
| treat them with patience and a gentle hand. Much like | | | | Sense of Touch |
| a parent should treat a small child. Even though they | | | | How can a horse touch things without hands? They |
| are highly intelligent and sensitive, they may not always | | | | use their lips to feel things! The Arabian horse's lips are |
| understand what you are asking of them, so careful | | | | thin and sensitive. He uses his muzzle and lips to |
| and patient handling will be best. | | | | examine unknown things. The long hairs on their |
| Sense of Sight | | | | muzzle help them judge the distance between objects. |
| Horses have outstanding peripheral (side) vision, but the | | | | Arabians are intelligent and curious, so you will often |
| placement of their eyes towards the sides of their | | | | see their lips busily touching or biting objects to explore |
| heads limits their field of vision. It is almost impossible | | | | them. |
| for them to see directly in front of or behind | | | | Most Arabians greatly enjoy being petted, groomed, |
| themselves. You will startle a horse if you approach it | | | | and gently scratched. Their heads are especially |
| directly from the front or the rear. | | | | sensitive, so you should take care not to handle their |
| The Arabians eyes are more widely spaced than | | | | face in a rough manner. The nerves in the Arabian's |
| those of more narrow headed breeds. This improves | | | | thin skin relay even the tiniest of sensations. Because |
| their side and rear vision, but may further limit their | | | | of this, the Arabian will respond to light cues from his |
| forward vision. A horses eyes change focus slowly, | | | | rider. |
| so moving objects will startle them. Approaching a | | | | Knowing your Arabian |
| horse too quickly will also cause it to become startled. | | | | Once you know how your Arabian observes and |
| Horses might be partially color blind, but they do appear | | | | responds to the world around him, you will be able to |
| to be able to discern the primary colors. Their night | | | | customize his care and handling. Encourage him to use |
| vision is excellent. This may help them avoid nasty | | | | his sharp senses to explore new objects. |
| nighttime predators. | | | | All horses will sense any fear or uncertainty you may |
| Sense of Smell | | | | have while handling them. If you assume a calm and |
| A horse uses its sense of smell to help him find water | | | | matter of fact approach it will help reassure your |
| and to help him decide if his food is appetizing or not. | | | | animal. A moderate pace is best when working with |
| Horses also use their sense of smell to identify people | | | | horses. Movements that are too fast may 'spook' your |
| and other animals by their unique scents. The widely | | | | horse, while moving too slowly may irritate your |
| flared nostrils of the Arabian allow a much larger intake | | | | intelligent friend. |
| of air than most horse breeds. This larger intake of air | | | | Remember that the Arabian's senses are super sharp. |
| may give the Arabian a sharper sense of smell. | | | | If your Arabian seems overly excited or fearful for no |
| Sense of Hearing | | | | apparent reason, it could be sensing things you can't. |
| Horses are able to hear higher and lower tones than | | | | Stay in tune with your horse and heed the warnings it |
| people can. Loud noises can damage a horses hearing | | | | is trying to give you. |