This is an excellent article published online at TheHorse.com. We all understand human body language. The same concept applies to horses as well. Remember, something as simple as a tail swish may not mean what you think. Further, some familiarity with horses doesn't necessarily supply you with all the information you need. And of course when you’re riding, you can’t see the entire horse --- you may be missing critical visual clues. We highly recommend that you read this informative article.

Equine Body Language: 7 Signs to Recognize

While each horse is different, here are some common behavioral signs that can help you tell if your horse is happy, sick, or painful, as well as keep you safe.

Horse, let’s talk. How are you feeling? Oh, you like it when I scratch right there? Oh, but not here, right? Okay. Whoa, wait a minute. You’re not about to bite me, are you?

On paper, it seems like a one-sided conversation. If you happened to overhear this discussion across the stall wall, you might think your neighbor’s having an imaginary sit-down with her horse. But the truth is, horses do communicate with humans. In fact, when given the chance, they do it quite well. And they do it all through body language—the use of their faces, ears, legs, backs, tails, and entire bodies to communicate information.

So this is not a one-sided or imaginary conversation. And your fellow barnmate isn’t nuts. On the contrary, when humans make an effort to learn to read their horses, they can create pathways toward a stronger and safer interspecies relationship. (Continue reading here.)