How to read a horse’s body language

or stressed than their body language suggests. This can be particularly true of coldblooded horses like cobs and Shires who may freeze if they are frightened rather than spook or run about. Conversely hotblooded breeds like Arabs and Thoroughbreds may be very reactive and expressive in their behaviour and body language if they are anxious.
The horses head and neck
The position of their head and neck can tell you a lot about how a horse is feeling. Often horses will raise their heads when aroused fearful or threatened. They will arch their necks in response to a threat and head threats can quickly escalate to lungeing and charging. Stallions bow their heads when they meet one another and snake their necks when herding members of their bands.
Elevated head
If your horse raises their head they may be focusing on something in the distance and be deciding whether to flee ignore or investigate it. If they raise their head while being ridden this could be an early sign of pain. Further indicators could be if the horse hollows their back puts their ears back shakes their head or swishes their tail.
Lowered head
A lowered head can be a sign that your horse is relaxed resting in pain or even depressed. Taking their overall body posture into account can help you to differentiate between these emotional states.
Head tossing
This indicates that a horse may be frustrated irritated or in pain. They may grind their teeth toss or fling their head open their mouth or elevate their head to avoid a riders hands or the bit when ridden. There is usually an overall stiffness to the body.
Head turned away
If a horse turns their head away when you approach this may be an indicator that they are worried about you or what youre about to do. Horses will often turn their head away when their owners arrive with their tack or travel bandages as they are anticipating that a stressful event is about to occur.
The horses tail
What a horse does with their tail is often overlooked but it can be a great indicator of their emotional state and is an important part of understanding body language.
Raised tail
A tail raised straight up is a sign of excitement. Its often seen when playing or when something has caught a horses attention.
Swishing their tail slowly
This is usually to get rid of flies but it can also be seen if a horse is becoming colicky.