Horses are extremely sensitive and emotional animals. They all have their distinct personalities and moods. This is why being able to read a horse’s body language is important and can prevent a lot of trouble. Most of it is in their ears!

If a horse’s ears are pinner straight back, it is NOT happy! If you are with a horse that is putting its ears back, give it space and figure out the cause. If a horse is angry, it can pose a threat to itself, other horses or animals, or yourself. Typically, horses will pin their ears back when eating or grazing to signal to another horse that they are too close to comfort. If a horse or human fails to respect a horse pinning its ears back, the risk of getting kicked or bit is very high.

If a horse’s ears are pinned straight up, facing forward, it is alert or scared. Most of the time when there is a loud noise or a quick movement, horses will jerk their head up quickly pointing their ears up in the direction of the distraction. Or if a horse sees something it does not like, such as a flamboyant obstacle or a large, fast dog, they will alert their herd by sticking their ears straight up towards the “threat.”

If a horse is not giving any signals with its ears, but it is flaring its nostrils, eyes widen, or it starts breathing heavy and fast, it is going to freak out. Whether is is anxious, excited, or just feeling silly it can be very dangerous to the horse or a person. If possible, try to keep the horse on a short lead, gently petting them to try and calm them down. If they are too pent up, it is safest to let them into a large field where they can safely get their energy out. Leaving them alone in a stall in these conditions can lead to the horse inflicting injuries on itself.