How To Read Horse Body Language

Horses are large animals, with many adult horses weighing 1,000 pounds or more. When you can read a horse’s body language it offers clues on how to approach a horse at that particular time.

“A horse’s body language can tell you a lot,” says Kathy Anderson, PhD, a professor and extension horse specialist at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

“If you understand their body language, sometimes you can avoid a situation that might put you or the horse in danger,” Anderson explains. “You can also understand when they’re getting scared or if something’s not bothering them that much.”

Every part of the horse’s body sends messages to you and other horses in the herd about their feelings in each situation.

Horses can move their ears up to 180 degrees, allowing them to hear sounds in multiple directions without moving their heads.

Watching their ears gives important hints about where the horse’s attention is directed and how they feel.

• Ears pricked forward signals the horse is paying attention to a movement or sound in the direction they’re looking.
• Ears swiveled back, but not tense, indicates the horse is listening to you when you are on their back or out of their line of vision.
• Ears pinned flat to their head is a warning sign to back off and give them space.

A horse’s eye is eight times larger than a human’s eye! Their eyes can communicate a lot about how they’re feeling in a given situation.

• Soft eyes, also called kind eyes, show the horse is relaxed and comfortable.
• Droopy eyes suggest the horse is relaxed and may even be taking a nap.
• Squinting may mean the sun is bothering a horse’s eyes or that they may have an injury.
• White of eyes showing is a sign that a horse is fearful or distressed.
• Bulging eyes are a signal the horse needs veterinary attention for a medical issue.

In addition, “A lot of people miss the wrinkles over the horse’s eye,” Williams says. “When the skin gets tight around their eyes, they are worried about something. I see that a lot with horses who come to us who maybe haven’t been abused but have not been handled well. They don’t know what to expect from people, and the wrinkles around their eyes tighten because they’re worried.”

• Light tail swishing occurs when horses swing and swoosh their tails to swat away bugs. It’s always important to provide proper fly protection for horses, including fly masks, fly sheets, and fly spray.

• Strong tail swishing indicates a horse is angry or irritated, even to the extent of a wringing of the tail.
• Clamping the tail is when a horse clamps his tail tight to his rump, which may indicate pain.

Different horse breeds portray certain characteristics, including how they carry their tails. Stock breeds tend to carry their tail relaxed against their butt, while other breeds have a more elevated tail, according to Anderson.

“When horses are feeling frisky and want to play, a lot of times they’ll raise a tail to the point where it looks like someone is pulling it up over their back,” she says. “When they’re doing that, usually there’s other things going on, like their heads are up, they are snorty, and prancing.”

Horses rely on their nose for breathing—they can’t breathe through their mouth—and they have a stronger sense of smell than humans.

Their nose can also tell you a lot about how they are feeling.

• Flared nostrils indicate excitement, exertion, or alertness.
• Blowing or snorting often signals curiosity, relaxation, or a way to clear their airways.
• A curled upper lip (the Flehmen response) means they are processing scents, particularly pheromones, and other smells.

Horses have 36–44 teeth; and even though you don’t see them unless they’re yawning or you’re looking in their mouth, those teeth can tell you a lot about how the horse is feeling.

• Chomping the bit is frequently a sign of nervousness or discomfort.
• Grinding teeth can indicate dental pain, colic, or gastric ulcers in horses, as well as anxiety.
• Biting can be the result of feeling playful or aggressive, or they may suggest a horse is in pain.

“Teeth clacking is normally something a young horse—a baby, weanling, or yearling—will do to an older horse to say, ‘I’m harmless,’” Williams says. “It’s different than a horse that is rapidly snapping its teeth [which means] either they are hurt, scared, or angry; and if you don’t back off, the next thing they’re going to do is bite.”

The horse’s legs communicate a lot about their comfort and intentions, from relaxation to annoyance, playfulness, and aggression.

• Stomping usually signals irritation, often due to flies or frustration.
• Cocking a back leg is the horse’s way of resting.
• Pawing can indicate impatience, boredom, or anticipation, especially when waiting for food.
• Striking is an aggressive action, where the horse forcefully extends a front leg, often as a defensive or dominant gesture.

When you spend time learning equine body language, you can better understand what your horse is trying to tell you—from how safe they feel to whether or not they may be sick or in pain.

“They’re all going to have different personalities, just like we have all different personalities,” Anderson says. “Understanding that something’s not right today is key to maintaining a safe and positive relationship with your horse.”

How do you describe a horse when they’re restless?

A restless horse will constantly move some part of their body, explains Williams. That could be swishing their tail, swiveling their ears, stomping their legs, moving while standing tied, or pacing. The more restless the horse becomes, the more pronounced the “wiggling” or movement.

What does it mean when a horse stares at you?

Horses are naturally curious. When they stare at you, it could simply be because they are interested in what you’re doing. However, if the horse is tense and their ears are back while they’re staring at you, it could be a precursor to aggressive behavior.

How do you know if a horse really likes you?

Because horses are prey animals, the most important quality they seek from humans is safety. When the people handling them prioritize safety, trust, and relationship building, a horse will be more comfortable with that person or humans in general.

What is friendly horse body language?

Williams explains that friendly horse body language is soft and relaxed. It may look like a horse with their head level and relaxed, a closed mouth, and a still or gently swishing tail. A friendly horse may even walk up to you.

This content was medically reviewed by Kaela Schraer, DVM.