Equine Communication,
Handling
and
Husbandry
Alison Bush,
ELISTA Education
January ‘12
About Today!
TODAY: A review, and the chance to learn
something new; approach different
thinking…understanding the horse and its needs, so
to ethically and effectively ‘use’.
NOW…
• Concepts of Sociability in Animals
•Introduction to communication
•General Intra-specie Equine Communication
•Inter-specie Equine-Human Communication
•Objective Observation
The Horse
“Large four-legged mammal with
flowing mane and tail, used for riding
and to carry and pull loads”
THOMPSON.D ed. (1992), The Pocket Oxford Dictionary, 8th Edition,
Clarendon Press, Oxford
The Horse
Date of domestication unclear, most evidence is
around 2000BC as use in chariots as transport, but
evidence also supports the domestication of the horse
as early as 4000BC in the Eurasian Steppes. Uses of
the horse:
meat
work
transport
leisure
warfare
Concepts of Sociability
The majority of large animal species
that we have domesticated and ‘use’
are group animals, we generically
refer to these groups as HERDS.
All animals can be categorised as
either:
• Solitary
• Gregarious
• Social
Concepts of Sociability:
Reasons for Social Behaviour
•
•
•
•
•
Avoid predation (more eyes and ears)
Protect and minimise loss (structure)
Learning
Reproduction
(catching prey)
Concepts of Sociability:
Disadvantages of Social
Behaviour
• Competition for resources
• More visible to predators
• Spread of Disease
Concepts of Sociability:
Elements of Social Behaviour
• Primary
Socialisation…
Rapid for precocial
species, not so for
altrecial species
IMPRINTING
occurs…
First by smell
Then by hearing and
sight
Concepts of Sociability:
Elements of Social Behaviour
• Secondary Socialisation
Socialisation with others in
the group, this may take
the
forms of…
• Play
• Aggression
Both of these behaviours help in the
formation of a hierarchy with the majority
of social species
Concepts of Sociability:A Hierarchy
A hierarchy is established quickly in order to
reduce the risk of continuous fighting.
There are various forms of hierarchy with
different groups
Linear A
B
C
D
Triangular A
Square
A
B
B
C
C
D
Concepts of Sociability:
A Hierarchy
A hierarchy is kept fairly stable by
superiors visual, vocal and chemical
signals, but can change if a
dominant animal is removed.
New animals entering a group have to
find their ranking within a group.
Sociability in the Horse
•Group of horses is called a band
•Most natural response is to flee, flight of one
horse will trigger response from others
•May defend for safety of young or group
•Subordinate to lead (mare usually, although
male is overall in charge increasing harem and
protecting)
•Roam for grazing and
water
•Isolate for birth
Sociability in the
Domestic Horse
How does sociability in the
domestic horse differ?
Does it?
Are hierarchies clearly defined?
Leadership as clear?
Are responses as significant?
Communication
Communication occurs upon production of
a signal by one animal that is recognised
and alters the behaviour of the receiver of
the signal
Communication can
be:
Visual
Auditory
Chemical
Tactile
Through Energy??
Parts of the Horse to Observe
in Intra or Inter Specie
Communication
General Intra-specie Communication
Visual
•Ears-show attention and
agnostic behaviour
•Eyes-whale eye, relaxed
•Head-lowering in
submission, raising in
dominance or anxiety
•Muzzle-tight or relaxed
•Hind quarters-used to
threaten, warn off a
resource
Intra-specie Communication
Vocal
•Neigh-alturistic warning or greeting
•Snort, Blow or Nicker…
Chemical
•Sniffing-introduction
Tactile
•Teeth- mutual grooming
and affection or warning and
biting
Inter-specie Communication
Handling Horses: Inter-specie Communication
Easy to be anthropomorphic in interpretation, aim to be objective.
1.
Eyes
What they are showing; body language as physical
signals of “emotional” state/preceding behaviour.
look of the eyes:
*Whites visible (except in appaloosas)- looking
back to something negative
“threatened”/”anxious”/”angry”.
*Half closed – Reducing light (and stimulus)
input. “Tired”, “relaxed”.
*Wrinkled brow – possible response to adjusting
lens focus: assessing new
(negative)stimuli/“worried”.
*Blinking - Processing information/assessing new
(positive?) stimuli, “thinking”,
*”Soft eye” - Gentle, relaxed, learning mode.
(most likely non-novel stimuli-comfortable
environment)
*”Hard eye” - Tense, resistant. (most likely novel
stimuli in environment) “uncertainty”
Handling Horses: Inter-specie Communication “by Adrianne Lake”
Ears
Watching the ears can help determine where the horse is focusing and
whether he interprets that as a positive or negative stimuli (how he is
feeling!). Generally a horse is focused on what the ears might be pointing
at.
*Turned back - Focused on something behind, also at rest/tired (not
responding to anything).
*Pointing forward - Attentive, curious.
*Rigid pointing – Uncertain/Fearful of stimuli ahead.
*Droopy - Tired, sleepy, lack of stimulation (bored).
*Pinned back - Threatening, aggressive, angry, warning.
(DISTANCE INCREASING)
*Pointing in different directions - Focused on two things at once.
*Rotating - Lots going on, curious, nervous, unsure what stimuli to respond
to.
*Airplane ears (drooped out to side) - Depressed, drugged, unwell,
sleeping.
*Neutral – Normal (limited novel stimuli).
Muzzle, Lips and Nostrils
*Tight/hard lips – “Anxious”, “tense”.
*Wrinkled muzzle – “Nervous”, “worried”.
*Licking/Chewing - Stress release, “digesting ideas”, acknowledgement.
*Drooping lip - Relaxed, “bored”.
*Swishing/Mobile Muzzle - Curious, extroverted.
*Flared nostrils - Nervous, excited, alert, working.
*Relaxed nostrils, soft muzzle - Neutral, relaxed.
*Flapping lower lip – “Unfocused”, sensitive, “nervous”.
*Open mouth, mouthing - Often seen in foals. "I'm a baby- don't hurt me".
Handling Horses: Inter-specie Communication
Head and Neck Set
*Low -Accepting, relaxed.
*High - Fear, anxiety, defiance.
*Level - Neutral, Focused.
Tail
*Swishing - Annoyed, irritated, flies.
*Flagged – “Excited”(Aroused), “happy”(positive stimuli), playful, alarmed
(often seen naturally in Arabians and foals and mares in season).
*High/Raised - Attentive, “excited”, “happy”.
*Low - Submissive.
*Neutral/level - Focused, normal.
*Clamped down - Fearful.
Legs
*Pawing – “Frustrated”/anticipation.
*Standing square - Attentive.
*Hind hoof resting - Relaxed.
*Hind leg lifted - Warning, defensive.
*Stamping- Flies, mild irritation.
*Striking – “Angry”, threatening, fighting.
*”Dancing around” - Nervous, excited, frightened.
As always, although this knowledge is
useful, the whole picture must be seen and
behaviour put into context.
Don’t forget to also observe environment!
Handling Horses: Inter-specie Communication
Adapted from Cheryl Sutor
2.What they are saying; vocalisations of
“emotional” state/preceding behaviour.
Is this
dangerous?
Hello- good
to see you!
The Snort-horse holds head high while exhaling through the nose with his
mouth shut. The strong exhale creates a vibration or flutter sound in the
Are you a
nostrils, lasts about 1 second.
friend?
The Blow -The horse exhales through his nose with his mouth shut. Usually
used when a horse is curious, or when meets another. The strength of the blow
and body movements that follow will tell you what the horse is saying.
The Nicker
The horse creates a vibrating sound with his mouth closed, from his vocal cords.
The strength and tone of the nicker vary greatly, and will tell you what the
horse is saying.
Is anyone
else
here?
The Neigh or Whinny
I don’t want
to!
The Neigh starts out as a squeal, but ends up as a nicker. The neigh is the
loudest and longest of the horse sounds. The neigh is not a sound of fear. It is
used when a horse is being separated from others.
The Squeal
The horse usually squeals with his mouth closed. The squeal can be short and
quiet or loud and long. The squeal can be heard far away if the horse squeals
loud enough.
Objective Observation
• “trotting, walking, canter”
• Ears back/forward
• Head up/down/turned
• Tail lifted, swishing
• Muzzle moving/still
In context of environment allows for analysis of
visual (and vocal) communication.
Environment=
•External and Internal Stimuli
•Social Interactions
Example…practical I
Observations: Ears back=Agnostic
Neck Down= Submissive /Relaxed
Tail= Small swish of tail
Environment: Other horse behind at distance
Analysis: Listening to something behind
whilst relaxing
OR Mild warning to other horse
OR Irritated by flies?!
Fearful,
prepared
to defend
Alert and
Interested
Attentive
and
Listening
Anxious
Relaxed,
nonstimulated
Uncomfort
-able or ill