Reading Horses

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Reading Horses
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How is this horse communicating?
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• Ears upright
• Head up
• Neck tight
• Eyes wide
• Trying to look away-rope taut

4
This horse is likely

• Somewhat frightened erectness of body eyes,
  ears, neck and posture
• Defiant not willing to give to the rope
• Attentive but not cooperative

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How is this horse communicating?
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• Ears back notice profile in shadow
• Nose rounded Roman Nose
• Neck stiff
• Looking down its nose at person
• Lips somewhat pointed

7
This horse is likely

• Angry
• Bossy
• Threatening the holder

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Similar posture as last photo- notice horse
already close to holder and willing to step closer
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How is this horse communicating?
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• Ears upright
• Defecating
• Head slightly toward person

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This horse is likely

• Frightened
• Anxious - defecation
• Starting to pay attention to the holder

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How is this horse communicating?
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• Head down
• Leg up
• Tail down
• Ears attentive
• Rope slack

14
This horse is likely

• More relaxed
• Cooperative
• Attentive
• The same disrespectful horse from the earlier
  photos after 1-2 hours training.

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How is this horse communicating?
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• Ears back
• Head and neck extended out forward
• Tail switching
• Muzzle pointed and tight
• Pawing ground

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This horse is likely

• Informing another horse to get out of its
  territory.

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How is this horse communicating?
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• Ears back
• Tail extended
• Neck and head extended
• Legs in pounce position

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This horse is likely

• Going to attack a horse in front of it if the
  other horse does not move away (the horse in
  danger is not the white horse)

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How is this horse communicating?
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• Ears erect - forward
• Head and neck up
• Face angled slightly down
• Rope slack
• Muzzle not pointed nor tight
• Nostril wide open

23
This horse is likely

• Trying to determine what the handler wants
• Willing to cooperate
• Not threatening handler
• Somewhat frightened