| It is a thing of beauty to watch a group or herd of | | | | Proximity is the next signal given by a horse in an |
| horses communicate with each other. To the novice or | | | | attempt to communicate. If a horse moves closer to |
| non-horsey person there appears to be nothing going | | | | you then it is saying I do not see you as a predator |
| on, however, having just a little knowledge regarding | | | | and I think I would like to make friends with you. At this |
| the communication skills of the horse enables a person | | | | point the horse's ears are still locked on you and they |
| to more thoroughly appreciate the effects of | | | | are still assessing the situation. In the wild if a horse |
| non-verbal communication and body language. | | | | sensed a threat it would run away and so with a |
| Horses are normally silent communicators, they do not | | | | horse moves closer to you it is not sensing any great |
| commonly yell out to each other, and this is a hang | | | | threat at that stage. |
| over from their wild ancestry where noise was | | | | Horses are grazing animals and stop to graze when |
| detrimental to their very survival. Horses use body | | | | they feel safe. Most horse people have seen foals |
| language or non-vocal communication constantly for | | | | when they are approached or feel threatened in any |
| discipline within their group, to communicate that they | | | | way immediately open their mouths and 'gum' or |
| desire assistance with a scratch or to signal that they | | | | "mouth" at the perceived threat. Horses when they are |
| are feeling safe and comfortable. | | | | assessing a situation for safety follow a certain |
| There are four major and easily identifiable signals, that | | | | pattern as mentioned above. Firstly they focus with |
| the novice can detect, by which horses communicate | | | | their ears and then attempt to move closer and the |
| with each other and us. Instinct is the major driving | | | | third signal that they are trying to befriend us is |
| force for the horse and they are a well developed | | | | indicated by a chewing action. This is their way of |
| communal 'flight' animal. It is rare for a horse to be | | | | saying 'I don't see you as a threat and I would like to |
| aggressive and openly attack another animal, unless | | | | share with you'. Often a horse when learning |
| they are corner or have been severely mistreated, as | | | | something new will make a chewing action with its lips |
| they are also very forgiving. | | | | when it begins to understand and is feeling relaxed |
| The first signal from a horse, identifying an attempt to | | | | about things. |
| communicate, is the use of their ears. When a horse is | | | | When a horse lowers its head to the ground it is in a |
| paying attention to you his ear closest to you (inside | | | | very vulnerable position. This position limits its vision and |
| ear in a round pen) is locked onto you and maintains | | | | is usually only a position a horse takes up when it is |
| this focus. This is an attempt by the horse to identify if | | | | grazing and feeling very safe. So when a horse in a |
| you are friend or foe, just as it would do in the wild. | | | | round pen lowers its head to the ground as it trots |
| Here the horse is assessing what danger there is to | | | | around it is saying that it wishes to discuss things and |
| itself, and whether to run away. | | | | will let you take charge. |