Horse Talk

Do you know horses talk? You can learn to understand “horse talk” if you pay close attention to them.

When horses live in the wild, other animals try to eat them, so a lot of horse talk is about staying alive. Even now, when most horses live on farms, they watch for danger. For this reason, never walk behind a horse. If you surprise it, the horse might mistake you for a lion or wolf and give a dangerous kick.

By watching the ears, you can get clues to what the horse is hearing. A horse can turn each ear in a different direction. For a wild horse, this skill is important for survival. The horse can hear something creeping up behind it while also checking out a threating noise in front. When a horse lets its ears down, it’s feeling safe and relaxed. Though these actions may be natural response and not deliberate communities, they help you know what the horse is thinking.

Sometimes horses can send definite message. For example, they know they are safer when they’re with other horses. If they become isolated, they “whiny（嘶鸣）,” calling for company. They’re saying, “Where are you? I’m over here!” Domestic horses use the same sounds to stay in touch with other horse.

If a horse snorts(打响鼻儿)， it’s not communicating anything. It’s just clearing dust or grass seed out of its nose. But if it snorts while holding its head high and staring at something, it’s saying, “That looks dangerous. Get ready to run!” When two horses meet, they put their noses together and smell each other’s breath. It’s their way of asking, “Are you a friend?” Horses also “blow,” breathing out the air loudly through the nose, when they meet something strange. They are asking, “Is this safe?”

Horses have a language of their own. Now you know a bit of what they might be saying!


A horse’s ears are special because they can ____.