Post by Scout on Jan 27, 2012 22:14:55 GMT -6
I have been meaning to make a thread like this for some time now and have never gotten around to doing it but, because i'm feeling less lazy im making for all of you to use. I guess this thread is more to help with descriptions of body language so anyway here ya go.
Eyes:
Whites showing (except in appaloosas)= anxious/angry
Half closed=tired/sleepy/relaxed
Wrinkled=worried
Blinking=Processing information/thinking
Soft eye= gentle/relaxed/learning mode
Hard eye= Tense/resistant
Ears:
Pointing forward=Attentive/curious
Rigid pointing= Fear/uncertainty
Droopy - Tired, sleepy, bored.
Pinned back - Threatening, aggressive, angry, warning.
Pointing in different directions - Focused on two things at once.
Rotating - Lots going on, curious, nervous, indecisive.
Airplane ears (drooped out to side) - Depressed, drugged, unwell, sleeping.
Neutral - Normal.
Muzzle/Lips/Nostrils
Tight/hard lips - Anxious, tense.
Wrinkled muzzle - Nervous, worried.
Licking/Chewing - Stress release, digesting ideas, acknowledgement.
Drooping lip - Relaxed, bored.
Swishing/Mobile Muzzle - Curious, extroverted.
Flared nostrils - Nervous, excited, alert, working.
Relaxed nostrils, soft muzzle - Neutral, relaxed.
Flapping lower lip - Unfocused, sensitive, nervous.
Open mouth, mouthing - Often seen in foals. "I'm a baby- don't hurt me".
Head/neck set:
Low -Accepting, relaxed.
High - Fear, anxiety, defiance.
Level - Neutral, Focused.
Tail:
Swishing - Annoyed, irritated, flies.
Flagged - Excited, happy, playful, alarmed (often seen in Arabians and foals).
High/Raised - Attentive, excited, happy.
Low - Submissive.
Neutral/level - Focused, normal.
Clamped down - Fearful
Legs:
Pawing - Frustrated.
Standing square - Attentive.
Hind hoof resting - Relaxed.
Hind leg lifted - Warning, defensive.
Stamping- Flies, mild irritation.
Striking - Angry, threatening, fighting.
Dancing around - Nervous, excited, frightened
Anxiety:Head/neck high, wrinkled eye and muzzle, tense/moving around, dominant, uncertain.
Focused:Head/neck level, tail slightly raised, rhythmic motion.
Accepting:Head/neck low, mouth licking and chewing, softer eye, relaxed, submissive.
Mares and Stallions: ( This section requires some maturity)
A mare in season will back into other horses, urinate frequently, raise her tail and wink her vulva. Many mares have temperament changes while in heat. A stallion (or sometimes a gelding) is said to be acting "studdy" when he is trying to court a mare. He may act alert, arch his neck, stand tall, nicker, dance around, dominant other males, or attempt to mount another horse. The flehmen response refers to a horse curling his upper lip up and out. It is usually seen when a stallion smells a mare in heat. However, other horses will do this when they smell something unusual.
Pregnant mares: Will often act more moody and tend to bite and kick more.
I hope that this helped some of you and when I find more information, I will be adding to this list. If you found some information that you would like added to the list- please reply to this post with your information and the source you got it from ( a link to the site would be appreciated).
Eyes:
Whites showing (except in appaloosas)= anxious/angry
Half closed=tired/sleepy/relaxed
Wrinkled=worried
Blinking=Processing information/thinking
Soft eye= gentle/relaxed/learning mode
Hard eye= Tense/resistant
Ears:
Pointing forward=Attentive/curious
Rigid pointing= Fear/uncertainty
Droopy - Tired, sleepy, bored.
Pinned back - Threatening, aggressive, angry, warning.
Pointing in different directions - Focused on two things at once.
Rotating - Lots going on, curious, nervous, indecisive.
Airplane ears (drooped out to side) - Depressed, drugged, unwell, sleeping.
Neutral - Normal.
Muzzle/Lips/Nostrils
Tight/hard lips - Anxious, tense.
Wrinkled muzzle - Nervous, worried.
Licking/Chewing - Stress release, digesting ideas, acknowledgement.
Drooping lip - Relaxed, bored.
Swishing/Mobile Muzzle - Curious, extroverted.
Flared nostrils - Nervous, excited, alert, working.
Relaxed nostrils, soft muzzle - Neutral, relaxed.
Flapping lower lip - Unfocused, sensitive, nervous.
Open mouth, mouthing - Often seen in foals. "I'm a baby- don't hurt me".
Head/neck set:
Low -Accepting, relaxed.
High - Fear, anxiety, defiance.
Level - Neutral, Focused.
Tail:
Swishing - Annoyed, irritated, flies.
Flagged - Excited, happy, playful, alarmed (often seen in Arabians and foals).
High/Raised - Attentive, excited, happy.
Low - Submissive.
Neutral/level - Focused, normal.
Clamped down - Fearful
Legs:
Pawing - Frustrated.
Standing square - Attentive.
Hind hoof resting - Relaxed.
Hind leg lifted - Warning, defensive.
Stamping- Flies, mild irritation.
Striking - Angry, threatening, fighting.
Dancing around - Nervous, excited, frightened
Anxiety:Head/neck high, wrinkled eye and muzzle, tense/moving around, dominant, uncertain.
Focused:Head/neck level, tail slightly raised, rhythmic motion.
Accepting:Head/neck low, mouth licking and chewing, softer eye, relaxed, submissive.
Mares and Stallions: ( This section requires some maturity)
A mare in season will back into other horses, urinate frequently, raise her tail and wink her vulva. Many mares have temperament changes while in heat. A stallion (or sometimes a gelding) is said to be acting "studdy" when he is trying to court a mare. He may act alert, arch his neck, stand tall, nicker, dance around, dominant other males, or attempt to mount another horse. The flehmen response refers to a horse curling his upper lip up and out. It is usually seen when a stallion smells a mare in heat. However, other horses will do this when they smell something unusual.
Pregnant mares: Will often act more moody and tend to bite and kick more.
I hope that this helped some of you and when I find more information, I will be adding to this list. If you found some information that you would like added to the list- please reply to this post with your information and the source you got it from ( a link to the site would be appreciated).
