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.
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.
If they see you looking at them in the eye it sends a message to them about who is in control. If you're working with a horse that's cunning and known to run over people then you rarely want to lose eye contact with this horse. Sometimes when you look away for just a second he knows it's his chance to charge at you.
This study found that the horses and ponies were no more wary of being caught by someone looking them in the eye. In fact, whether or not the handler avoided eye contact while in the pasture had no influence on how successful they were in actually catching the horses.
Most animals that are bigger than you, and most wild animals. Any animal that feels threatened by your presence. Any predatory animal that's stronger than you. So it's ok to look a cat in the eye because it isn't stronger, but a lion, tiger, wolf, hyena, bear etc, not a good idea.
Direct eye contact in these canids is often a behavior in establishing or challenging dominance, so staring at a dog or wolf makes them uncomfortable, if not irritated.
Between species
Eye contact can also be a significant factor in interactions between non-human animals, and between humans and non-human animals. Animals of many species, including dogs, often perceive eye contact as a threat. Many programs to prevent dog bites recommend avoiding direct eye contact with an unknown dog.
On approach, try to look at the horse's knees as opposed to directly in the eyes as this can make a horse feel threatened. If you are approaching the horse, not in eyes view, it is especially important to let your presence be known.
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.
It is modeling behavior for us; they want us to drop our stress level, or aggressiveness as well. When a horse looks away, either with his eyes or whole head and neck, it is a calming cue.
To show excitement:
Horses may nod their heads when they are excited or eager, such as when they see their owner coming to feed them or when they are about to go out for a ride. This can be a way for horses to express their enthusiasm and communicate their feelings to their handlers.
Some horses enjoy having their heads and ears rubbed. Horses often groom each other on the whither, so this would be a good place to try too.
Yes, they do. Very much so. And they have long memories for both the humans they've bonded with in a positive way and the ones who have damaged or abused or frightened them.
Where you look is where you'll go. Your body, and your horse's body, will automatically follow your eyes.
Give Him a Scratch
A horse looking at you and sniffing you is interested in you and what you are doing. Show him you are his new best friend by giving him a nice scratch. They aren't the kind of animals who much enjoy soft strokes; this probably tickles them more than anything.
The number one trust builder is to be predictable by being consistent! Be consistent with your energy level, emotions, and how you show up around your horse. Stay consistent with your communication, always sending and receiving messages in the same way — a way that both you and your horse clearly understand.
If they encounter an aggressive or fearful situation, their “fight or flight” response includes a bump in adrenaline, which dries their mouth and nose. Once the situation resolves and adrenaline levels drop, secretions like saliva and mucus start flowing again, Dr. McDonnell said.
Dr. Antonio Lanatá and his colleagues at the University of Pisa, Italy, have found that horses can smell fear and happiness. While these are just two emotions the researchers identified, further studies may reveal horses can pick up additional emotions from the body odors humans emit.
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.
If you encounter an aggressive lion, stare him down. But not a leopard; avoid his gaze at all costs. In both cases, back away slowly; don't run. If you stumble on a pack of hyenas, run and climb a tree; hyenas can't climb trees.
Side eye placement allows for greater peripheral or side vision. This enables the animal to see predators approaching from the side as well as from behind. This vision is very important for protecting an animal when it is grazing or feeding.
For example, strong eye contact can mean anything from scrutiny to distrust or curiosity to genuine attraction. Eye contact signals attention in most cases, so at the very least, if someone is maintaining strong levels of eye contact with you, it's a sign that they notice you and give you their attention.