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.
And then other trainers say you should avoid direct eye contact altogether as this will frighten the horse because it will make them think you are stalking them.
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.
Hard eye contact is view as a threat by horses. To the horse it is a sign of being stalked. When you rebuke a horse, you can actually use direct, hard eye contact as a form of the admonishment.
Horses may stare at you when they want your attention. If you are distracted or out of reach, your horse may stare at you to get you to focus on them. If there's a barrier such as a fence between you and your horse, they may stare at you since they can't reach you to nudge you.
If a horse is grazing in a field and they come towards you when you are around you can be sure they like you. Horses that follow your movements in their presence show they are focused on and give you 100% of their attention. If your horse follows you around when they see you, they consider you as a friend.
When a trained horse becomes frustrated with the rider, the signs may be as subtle as a shake of his head or tensing/hollowing of his body, or as blatant as swishing the tail, kicking out or flat out refusing to do what the rider asks.
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.
Horses can be disrespectful in many ways; here are the most common disrespectful behaviors when it comes to dealing with horses: Grazing While Being Led or Ridden. Bumping Into You. Dragging You or Walking Too Slow When Being Led.
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.
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.
They will accept you as their leader and do what they are told, while not running over or cramping you. Sometimes they may even follow you around. Sometimes horses will blow air in your face through their nostrils to show you they love you, like they do with other horses.
Many horses are undersocialised and can struggle with the presence of other horses, so seeing another horse (even if it is their own reflection) in a mirror could seem threatening. Socialising your horse is something that can often be easily fixed and a qualified behaviourist can help you and your horse address that.
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth is an admonishment to be grateful when receiving a present and not to find fault with that present. A horse's teeth change as it ages, and looking in its mouth is a good way to judge the health and value of a horse. To question the value of a gift is an insult.
It really depends. They may show signs of sadness, much like when they leave a favorite herd mate. On the other hand, if you weren't that close they will likely have no emotional response to being sold. If they do appear sad, it's only time before they get comfortable in their new home and let go of those feelings.
Be sure to stay away from the sensitive areas of the horse like the eyes, ears, muzzle, and belly of the horse. While some horses might be OK with you petting these areas, many are sensitive and won't like to be touched there.
This behavior is a way horses naturally groom each other. When your horse tries rubbing its head on your body, it may be attempting to “groom” you as a show of affection. Even though some horses rub their head on humans as a way to show affection, it's a behavior that should be discouraged due to the risk of injury.
Nudging is a way for a horse to get your attention, which can signify affection or impatience.
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.
According to results of a study conducted by researchers at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, horses do seem to read some signals to indicate whether a nearby person is stressed or afraid, at least in certain circumstances.
Horses stomp to indicate irritation. Usually, it's something minor, such as a fly they're trying to dislodge. However, stomping may also indicate your horse is frustrated with something you are doing, and if you don't address it, he may resort to stronger signals.
“Horses generally neigh to attract attention of other horses or of people.” She adds that it can also be “a sign of separation anxiety or a sign of social isolation.
Typically, a horse bites someone as a sign of aggression. However, in some cases, a horse can bite you in a playful manner or even as a sign of affection. Although this can seem sweet at first, any type of biting should be immediately discouraged.