Listen to your horse...
What are they trying to tell you?
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| CAN you hear what I'm saying? |
Horses are very talkative. We just need to pay attention, listen to their body language and respond
appropriately. In doing so, we improve our relationship through understanding and trust. We reduce stress and
can therefore eliminate bad behaviour.
What is your horse saying?
Indicators of pain or discomfort:
Dipping away when putting the saddle on and / or mounting.
Biting and lashing out when girthed or touched.
Not moving forward freely.
Lacking flexibility /stiff.
Unlevel.
Unequal movement through limbs.
Carrying
the tail to one side.
Oversensitive to movement in the environment.
Throwing head in the air during a transition.
Refusing to jump where had before.
Rushing at a jump where hadn't before.
Bolting or pulling hard on the bit
and not responding to the contact.
Bucking and rearing.
Struggling to get a canter lead.
Falling in or out
badly.
Tripping or stumbling.
Indicators of poor health:
Not alert / little response.
Not eating.
Not drinking.
Loose or hard stools.
Lack of stools.
Stools or urine of unusual colour or smell.
Tucked
up appearance.
Hair standing on end.
Sweating when shouldn't be.
Dull eyes.
Gums white, blue or yellow.
Any unusual discharge from an orifice.
Tension.
Resting a foreleg.
Uncomfortable behind - moving from foot
to foot.
Swelling, heat, cuts, bleeding, puss.
Pulse rate out of the ordinary (should be 35 - 45 bpm)
Temperature
out of the ordinary (should be 37.5 - 38.5 degrees C)
Respiratory rate out of the ordinary (should be 8 - 16 per
minute)
