Sights directly to the horse's side but on the ground or in the air are difficult to see unless he cocks his head. Equine vision also creates blind spots. A horse cannot see a person standing directly in back of him. Surprised from behind, even the sweetest horse can kick in almost any direction.
Horse's eyes are situated on both sides of his head, which is why he sees almost everything on the back and on the sides - the vision is flat and out of focus. Much clearer he can see what is in a triangle in front of his muzzle (three-dimensional sharp picture).
Can a horse see directly in front of them? Horses eyes are located on the side of their head, so they have a wide range of vision. They can see almost 360 degrees and have blind spots only immediately in front and immediately behind their bodies.
Some report you should use soft eye contact when dealing with horses, meaning you can look at the horse but also keep a wide field of view. Other trainers indicate hard contact is preferred to establish your dominance over the herd.
Horses, with their monocular/binocular vision, may also see objects larger than they really are. You may appear to be ten feet tall to a horse! Horses have much better night vision than we do. This is possible because of the tapetum, a highly reflective area in the back of the eye.
A horse may also be very happy to see you if they trot over to you from the pasture when they see you coming. These are two common ways that horses show they are excited and eager to see you. Horses will become very relaxed when they are in the company of someone they love and trust.
Bottom line: riders who move WITH a horse are “lighter” than people of the same weight who “ride like a sack of potatoes.” There is a popular misconception that big people should ride big horses. The reality is that smaller horses can carry a higher proportion of their own weight than bigger horses.
Some horses have been reported to gradually become more anxious when a mirror is left in their stable. Some have become aggressive and repeatedly attacked the mirror if it is not removed, even when they have never shown signs of aggression previously (I know of several who have injured themselves as a result of this).
What does it mean when a horse stares at you? Your horse may gaze at you while relaxed to connect with you or to see if you've brought tasty treats. On the other hand, if your horse is staring at you with high alert signs like a raised head and flared nostrils, she might be spooked by you or something you're wearing.
Horses don't naturally and normally trample people. They can and do occasionally, but it's not a natural inclination for them. Most of the time a horse running over a person will just step or hop over them.
A study in 2010 concluded what equestrians already knew: yes, a horse does recognize “their” person and they can differentiate them from other humans. They do that based on olfactory as well as auditory and visual cues, which means by seeing and smelling us as well as by hearing our voice.
Horses can smell specific odors in human sweat that reflect emotions like fear and happiness, Italian researchers have learned.
Allowing You Near While Lying Down
A true sign of trust and love, as horses are vulnerable when lying down and allowing you near is a big gesture. Horses are vulnerable when lying down, so if your horse allows you to approach and touch them while they are lying down, it's a clear sign that they trust and love you.
A horse's respect is earned by moving his feet forward, backward, left, and right, and always rewarding the slightest try. Think about respect from your horse's point of view. When horses are thrown together out in a pasture, it's natural for them to establish a pecking order.
Horses exhibit higher heart rates when separated from a human, but don't show any preference for their owners over complete strangers, the team discovered. Swedish researchers started their work with the theory that positive reinforcement training on a horse was more likely to lead to them forming a strong attachment.
Have you ever been nudged by a horse? Horses use body language to communicate with humans (and other horses), and one of the ways they do this is through touch. Nudging is a way for a horse to get your attention, which can signify affection or impatience.
Start at the Neck
You can also try scratching the horse. Most horses have a couple of favorite spots where they like to be scratched, typically along the top of their neck where their mane starts, on their chest, under their jaw, and their withers (the raised area where their neck connects to their back).
Never look a horse in the eye
This common misconception comes from a very basic and old idea that horses are prey animals and because of that fact, they cannot tolerate the peering eyes of a predator. Many novice trainers and some more advanced trainers stick to this principle. But they are misguided.
Never stand directly in front of your horse when leading or backing. Horses cannot see directly in front of them or behind them. Stand to the “near side" (left side) of the horse, between the head and shoulder, ideally at the throat latch. Standing behind a horse is also unsafe, as they have a blind spot there as well.
Walking only a few feet behind the horse is unsafe because you will receive the kick with full force. If you do not want to walk closely, move far enough away so that there is no chance of getting kicked, and make sure the horse is aware of your presence when you approach the other side.
Some horses visibly enjoy it, while others might find it annoying or even scary. Whether or not your horse enjoys it usually depends on a few things. How/when they were trained and conditioned and the relationship with the rider. Also, their health status is a big factor.
Conclusion. There is no definitive answer to the question of whether horses like being ridden. While some horses seem to enjoy the companionship and the attention that they receive from their riders, others may find the experience to be uncomfortable or even stressful.
As a general rule, a horse can only comfortably carry up to 15–20% of its own body weight, though this may differ slightly from horse to horse. For instance, a horse that weights 500kg can comfortably carry a load of 100kg.