Did you know that your horses ears can save your life? As horses cannot speak, they communicate through their body parts, such as their ears. If you know these body signals, you will know when you will be attacked by your horse, thus, saving you from getting kicked or bitten. A horses kick is very strong and can cause for you to acquire serious injuries.

By nature, horses are very observant animals because they are prey animals. Since they always fear for their lives, they must be aware of their surroundings at all times. Because of this, they have developed the fight-or-flight instinct that works very well in saving their lives.

Horses have unpredictable nature and they can act violently if they feel threatened. They can bite your fingers, even sever them. They can kick you and throw you off their back. Because of these, it is necessary for you to be watchful whenever near a horse.

To become a good horseman, you must understand the basic nature of horses and their instincts. You must also know how they communicate with each other as well as their innate responses to their environment. This will enable you to identify certain behavior that will help you predict their next move.

A horse expresses how it feels through body signals. It communicates by moving its ears, body and tail, and through facial expression. Among its body parts, the ears are the most expressive.

The ears of the horse are very expressive as these are very sensitive. The ears sensitivity is due to its pinna that can rotate up to 180, which gives it 360 hearing. The ears always point to whatever gets its attention.

You should know what your horse is trying to communicate through its ears. Here are some facts about your horses ear position.

If you see your horses ears are upright or forward, it is a sign of alertness. When the horse is afraid, its ears are stiff and tilted. Forward ears is a safe expression of friendliness and good cheer, however it can also be a danger signal.

Remember that a horse’s ears will always point to where its interest lies. If your horse is straining its ears forward at a strange horse, it might be intending to sniff noses with that horse. The next reaction can be loud squeals, kicks, or nips. This is why you should pay attention to which your horses ears point.

Ears pointing backwards can mean a lot of things. It can mean a feeling of fear or threat. It can mean your horse is feeling sleepy. If you are riding your horse and its ears are pointing backward, it means that it is listening to your voice.

The most important signal that you should be very aware of is if your horse puts its ear back flat to its neck and shows the white of its eyes. This is a threat. This means that your horse is angry and is ready to attack.

These are just a few of the things that you should learn. Understanding these signals can surely help you become a better rider.

Tags: Horses