AS discussed in part one, the fundamentals for the safest, quickest and most effective equine training, relies on the understanding and implementation of equine body language, equine social behaviour, equine learning theory and scientifically proven humane training techniques (what good horsemen have worked out themselves).

The first component in effective training/re-training is understanding the horse’s body language. By being able to correctly read equine body language - postural indicators of state - we can determine the difference between a horse showing signs of anticipating pain/fear and a horse displaying body language linked to confidence, learned behaviour or misbehaviour.

This is a pinnacle point in any training as by distinguishing the horse’s emotional state, it allows us to create the correct retraining programme for each circumstance, no one training programme fixes all behaviour problems.

The key areas of equine body language used to understand emotional state are:

? Chin: The mouth (upper lip, often described as the nose) and the lower lip (often described as the chin) provide a great deal of information that is particularly useful when investigating problems in the ridden horse.

When the lower lip (or chin) appears tight and sufficiently tense so it appears to be tucked underneath or behind the upper lip, this is an indication of anxiety and fear. This is usually described as ‘chin tucked’,’chin tight’ or ‘chin back’ and contrasts with the resting and relaxed positions of the chin - where both upper and lower lips (or nose and chin) appear level giving the muzzle a ‘square’ appearance in silhouette.

? Note: When the horse is exhausted the ‘lips’, ‘nose’ and ‘chin’ may become loose again, although tension should still be visible in the cheek muscles.

Licking and chewing may appear due to dehydration from physical exhaustion or the sympathetic nervous system in response to anxiety and fear creating a ‘dry mouth’ just before the onset of physical exhaustion.

? Yawning: There are many different forms of yawning recognised in other species. Should the physiology be the same for horses, a yawn could be regarded as indicative of rising circulatory beta endorphins and regarded as a submissive social gesture or indicative of slight tension and nervousness.

Behaviour scientists have observed unconscious copying, popularly recognised in people also occurs between horses (note horses do not learn through copying).

A yawn in the horse may simply be indicative that it has seen someone or another horse yawn, this makes yawning an unreliable indicator of state.

? Muzzle angles and head height: The relative angles of the neck, head and muzzle provide a great deal of information about the emotional state and imminent actions of the horse.

These are however affected by the actions of the rider and the work in progress and must be taken into consideration when investigating behavioural problems in the ridden horse.

Generally, when the head is up (the poll is higher than the wither) and the muzzle is extended or out (i.e. making an obtuse or > 90 degree angle with the neck) it is an indication of tension, nervousness or fear, see Figure 2.

In the standing resting horse, the poll should be approximately level with the withers. This is also the desired height of the head in the ridden horse. When a ridden horse is relaxed and obedient the line from poll to muzzle should make a right angle to the line from wither to poll, see Figure 1.

Young horses naturally adopt this relaxed position immediately when they are first ridden – if they have been backed, handled and ridden correctly.

When accompanied by the desired level of hind limb impulsion and the horse continues to accept a steady contact with the rein, this posture is colloquially known as ‘on the bit’.

Deviations from the ideal are usually due to rider error and when these persist with a variety of competent and experienced riders then it may be indicative of ill-fitting tack, especially the saddle.

HOLLOW

The most common problem is described as going ‘hollow’ - the muzzle is extended out and up and the head is held up with the poll well above wither height. In this position the biomechanics of the horse are such that the horse is less well able to use hind limb power to propel him and the rider forward. Riders frequently try to get and keep their horse ‘on the bit’ by bringing the head down and muzzle to the desired shape or ‘outline’ by creating discomfort in the horses mouth until this shape ensues.

Achieved in this manner, however, the head is often held too high (poll above withers) and there is a lot of tension in the neck and back muscles, blocking good movement whilst creating discomfort and stiffness which can contribute to a great deal of riding and performance problems.

? Outline: One of the most useful combination indicators is that of the horse’s outline, particularly the top line of the horse from the muzzle to the tip of the tail.

Essentially the flatter the outline the more calm the horse is. Obvious even at considerable distance, flat outlines of a group indicates that they are relaxed, moving slowly or resting, this contrasts sharply with a group with obviously ‘curved’ outlines, heads and tails up, indicating a high degree of excitement and probably relatively fast paces.

SUMMARY

Combining information from all the various elements of body language provides the following summary of indicators of confidence and relaxation which can be used to positively identify misbehaviour due to deliberate naughtiness or proactive aggression.

Indicators of confidence or relaxation

Indicators of tension and fear

For more information, consultations or equine behaviour workshops visit:

Web: societyofequinebehavioirconsultants.org.uk

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