Equine Body Language Speaks Volumes
Learn to read equine body language. Even without words, your horse has a lot to say. Her ears, facial expressions, tail and legs can provide clues to her emotional and physical state.  Ear-ly Warnings Neutral: Ears are held loosely upward, openings facing forward or outward.
Pricked: Ears held stiff with openings pointed directly forward. The horse is alert.
Airplane: Ears flop out laterally with openings facing down. The horse is tired or depressed.
Drooped: Ears hang down loosely to the side, usually meaning tiredness or pain.
Angled Backward: (with openings directed back towards a rider) Usually means attentiveness to the rider or listening to commands.
Pinned Flat Against The Neck: Watch out! This horse is angry and aggressive. This is equine body language that you shouldn't ignore! Read My Lips...And Eyes And Nose Snapping: This is seen in foals showing submission to an older horse. They will open their mouths and draw back the corners, then open and shut their jaws.
Jaws Open With Teeth Exposed: Aggression or possible attack.
The Flehmen Response: Caused by an intense or unusual smell, usually in stallions when they sense a mare in heat. They stick their nose in the air and curl the upper lip over their nose. Flared Nostrils: Usually means they are excited or alert. Could indicate colic.
White Around The Eyes: Usually means they are angry or scared. The Tell Tale Tail High: Alert or excited.
Low: Exhaustion, fear, pain or submission.
High Over Back: (as seen in most foals) Feeling playful or very alarmed.
Swishing: Irritated. Also used to swish away flies. Can be a sign of colic. Leg Looks Sometimes, equine body language has more than one interpretation. You'll get to know your horse's "meanings" from watching her: Pawing: They are frustrated. Could be a sign of colic.
Front-leg Lifted: Can be a mild threat or a normal eating stance.
Back Leg Lifted: Often a more defensive threat. Sometimes used when resting or sleeping.
Stamping: Indicates a mild threat or protest or a sign that flies are biting their legs. Horse Talk: Vocal And Non-Vocal Communication Neighs or whinnies: High pitched, drawn out sounds that can carry over distances. Horses whinny to let others know where they are and to try to locate a herd mate.
Nickers: Low-pitched and quiet. Stallions nicker when courting a mare, mare and foals nicker to each other and domestic horses nicker for food.
Squeals or Screams: Usually denotes a threat by a stallion or mare. You'll know it when you hear it.
Blowing: Strong, rapid expulsion of air resulting in a high pitched whooshing sound. It's usually a warning or alarm signal.
Snorting: A more passive, shorter lower pitched version of blowing. Your horse doesn't have to be Mr. Ed to talk to you. Equine body language speaks volumes!
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