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Horse Body Lingo These are just some overall indicators to be used in context, as a head raised, nostrils flaring, with mouth open may just be a horse catching a scent. As such there are different levels of activity dependant on the mood. An annoyed horse may be convinced, an angry may be a danger. Level of training of the horse will affect reaction. Certain indicators may not be the same or even present depending on the horse. |
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Emotional State |
Head/ Neck |
Ears |
Eyes |
Nostrils
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Muzzle
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Legs/ Feet |
Tail
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Stance/ carriage |
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Angry Annoyed |
Neck outstretched, possibly lowered |
Pinned |
Narrowed to slits |
Flared |
Pursed or teeth bared ( to bite) |
Stamping Striking Kicking |
Swishing
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Confrontational Chest dominant |
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Challenging |
Head/Neck Raised Muzzle up |
Extremely active |
Focused may be narrowed |
Flared , Active |
May Be Lipping, Chewing |
Stiff legged, Prancing |
Held High Swiveling May Swish |
Tense, May Try Appearing Bigger /taller |
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Fearful |
Head towards fearful object neck pulled in |
Fixated on source , or flicking if not identified |
Wide open Whites Showing |
Flared and Snorting |
May Be Twitching./Questing |
May Go From Frozen Stance To Fleeing |
Clamped, After possibly vacating bowels |
Crouches/ Backs up, and may present Hind end defensively |
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Uncertain |
Head up Neck Tense May swivel To find object or escape |
Flicking Rapidly Back And Forth |
Unfixed /darting and searching |
Quivering
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May Quest to find identifying scent |
May be locked in place, or pacing gingerly |
May be in clamped or raised state |
Tense /Alert Muscles may quiver |
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Expectant |
Head Shakes Neck snakes |
Darting |
Dilated Attentive/Focused
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Intermittent Quivering
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Lip Smacking Vocalizing |
Restless Pawing /Tamping |
Switching
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Restless overall Light quiver if excited |
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Curious |
Head / Neck extended towards Object / or raised |
Intently pricked forward |
Intently focused |
Sniffing , blowing May raise nostrils Open mouth |
Pursed / may be reaching |
Firmly planted |
Held up |
Forward oriented May move stiffly |
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Content Satisfied |
Head held steady Neck level |
May Be anywhere Moving easily No tenseness |
Open / Distant Soft |
Loose |
Relaxed
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Casual / one foot cocked or Browsing slowly |
Relaxed may sway |
May be standing quietly looking around |
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Submissive |
Head held lower May avert head |
Slightly cocked back |
Can be Averted Or downcast |
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Low clamped Or may ‘gum’ as In foals |
May be light on front .side or rear |
Held low |
Giving overall indication of compliance |
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Bored / At ease |
Head down May hang neck |
Overly relaxed |
Droopy, Dull |
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Slack
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May plod / drag if moving |
Low unmoving, |
Disinterested sedate |