Body Language: When It's Not What You Think

Shiloh is not being rude

Shiloh gets gobs of crusty mare goop on her udder and between her hind legs. Obviously irritating! She asks for help by stepping her hip toward me to indicate the body part that's bothering her. If I don't get it, she puts her ears back. If I still don't get it, she lifts her hind leg. It took me a while to realize she is NOT being rude; she is desperately asking for help. This shows how horses try to communicate with us, and when we don't understand, their escalating attempts can begin to look like "bad" behavior.

Shiloh says, "Thank You!"

Shiloh's body language says she really appreciates having her udder cleaned! Baby wipes work great.

"That's a relief!"

She needs cleaning between her hind legs, too. Many ways that horses try to communicate with us can be misunderstood. I have learned NOT to assume rudeness. Instead, I ask myself, "What could she be trying to tell me?"

Two books with valuable information on interpreting horses' body language:
Connection Training by Hannah Weston and Rachel Bedingfield
Horse Speak by Sharon Wilsie

protectorleadershipWhatHorsesReallyWantlibertytrainingfriendlybodylanguage