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Lurid-Dreamer — Equine Basic Body Language 1
Published: 2011-05-08 01:04:03 +0000 UTC; Views: 8167; Favourites: 218; Downloads: 0
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Description
A Tutorial on equine communication.For this tutorial I touched the "basics," rather than the more intricate styles of communication in the Language of Equus.
I've learned a lot about equine anatomy through basic observation and research. Working so closely with horses (and wanting to continue and broaden my work-base), it's essential that one learns the 'meanings' behind a horse's actions.
Nothing bothers me more than someone drawing a picture of a horse with the wrong body language. For example, a "happy" galloping picture with the ears flat back and nostrils flared. Not a "happy" horse, folks!
So I started a series of tutorials to teach about horses. This one, part 1 of Equine Communication. Part 2 will come in due time.
The section for the hindquarters is a little empty but will probably be more elaborated later.
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Comments: 38
reading this, the leaning on the front legs; my mare does this when she is relaxed, she sticks out her elbow too. it looks really wierd but its how she is XD
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One of the old mares I used to ride would walk right up to you and lift her hind leg, but she wasn't trying to kick you she was trying to tell you to scratch her belly x3
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happy horse...
Ears foreword, leaning toward you, possibly paying more attention to the treat in your hand than anything but all the horses I've seen do that..
unhappy horse, (from own expierence) ears pinned, stamping at ground leg threatening..
it's really not that hard to get and argeed about the icon bit
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Amen!
But a lot of people who don't have experience with horses, or limited experience, don't know. With handling of over 80 horses now on my own, you bet your britches I know well. LOL Like, for example, someone who only feeds horses occasionally from over a fence, or simply driving by, won't realize as much as you or I.
Although "stamping the ground" is usually a way to get an irritant -- like a fly, for instance -- off of their leg. I've never been "threatened" by a horse who stomps a foot. I have, on the other hand, received the leg pick-up, slight kick out, and THEN a harsh stomp. From hooves pawing the ground I've never seen as aggression; but I have seen horses strike out with their front feet (not scraping the ground).
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My guess is the best way to explain it is that all horses are different. Kinda like what you said about the one who always had his ears pinned. Seems to me like the only way to really get a accurate picture of horses is to spend years with them, or handle a lot.
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True, for the more serious artist who wants to perform primarily in the equine world. But to folks who enjoy horses and know about them, but simply don't have access, well this tutorial was more for them than for you or I.
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As someone who hasn't even seen a horse in real life since I was 8, this was extremely helpful. You've saved at least one person from inaccurate ear positioning, I was honestly going to reference rodents, cause I know them.
Anxiously awaiting part 2.
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I'm really glad it's helpful to you. 
I just saw an "angry" horse icon... And the ears were relaxed. The icon was an Appaloosa (a breed where the sclera is most always visible, anyway) so the atmosphere of the image was totally ruined. And all because the artist set the ears wrong. :/
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I'm very excited that someone is taking the time to explain some body language, and doing very well! I feel like this is one of the major problems non-horsey equine artists apart from drawing riders in the fetal position. It can help any equine artist take their work to the next level, too.
I've never heard of cocking a leg as a que for readiness in training, though. I think the only time I would think of cocking a leg as "understanding" would be if an otherwise fidgeting horse when tied has calmed and is accepting being tied (unless that's what you meant). Otherwise I would rely on the ears/head positioning/mouth and the general performance to tell if a horse is finally understanding what I'm asking, and would be a little worried if my horse continually cocked a leg when training.
I'm just curious where you've seen it used like that, because if I'm not misunderstanding you then maybe there's a discipline gap or a different way of thinking I haven't encountered.
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Thank you very much! The body communication has been a huge gap in almost every horse picture I've ever seen. I may take on the obstacle of riders later; but I think that has already been done (don't quote me) -- I've yet seen a tutorial on the communication of horses so that's what I've tackled.
I've done it with my personal horse, but learned that cue from Clinton Anderson's method. I was getting my gelding used to being touched everywhere (he's very jumpy); he would be tense while I was doing this. When he relaxed/accepted it, he would cock his leg, lick, and lower his head (the works). It's always combined with some other body cue, not always by itself.
When I saw it in action outside of my horse, CA was working with a very pushy, dominating mare. He did his "lunging for respect" exercise with her; when he asked for two eyes, she cocked her leg and relaxed when she finally "understood," licked her lips and lowered her head to him. From then on she would turn and give him two eyes every time he asked for her to stop on the lunge line. Basically it's as you said -- more as "I understand and I'm relaxed with this now" and less of an "I'm ready for the next step" (which was not what I was trying to convey).
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I see, I simply misunderstood you. I've never really looked into Clinton Anderson's methods, but I've heard he was pretty good. It's very interesting, and now I'm going to look and see what my horses do the next time I work with them!
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I was following his clinics before I got my horse (along with Dennis Reis, Ryan Gingerich, and a few others on the RFD-TV channel). You can see a lot of episodes from Clinton here; [link] .
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when i was at college the horses used to paw at the stall doors at feeding time. like they were saying 'feed me first'
wanted to draw a horse thats not happy. so this will come in useful to look at when i get stuck.
can't wait for the second part
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Yup, it's an impatience thing. I've known horses to also do it when they're uncomfortable. At the livery, one horse chokes every so often (because he's a dork). One of his "signals" is pawing...
And I love drawing mean-looking horses. 
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This is a great tutorial ^^* every tip i recognized from my experiences with horses
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Thank you.
Now by any chance do you have a motivation mash to feed me so I can finish part 2 (how genders communicate with one another) and 3?
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OOOOH now that sounds like a very cool tutorial to see!!!
If you want motivation tho i have to say i have yet to see another equine body language tutorial here, ESPECIALLY one like thats sooooo...WE NEED IT 
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I was keeping your last reply to remind me to DO SOME F-ING WORK ON THAT TUTORIAL and help motivate me but I'm freakishly clean about my inbox and the constant "1 message" is getting on my nerrrvvveeesss.
OTL
And yeah, it's a shame that more people don't focus on the communicative part of drawing horses. I see a lot of "HAPPY POSTURE HAPPY ATMOSPHERE" with angry/in pain eyes/ears. XC
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Oh i get ya lol you need another one im sure i can think one up XD
Oh im sure i do that myself XD GUILTY!!! not good enough at drawin em to really get it
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Well if you'd ever like some extra help, drop me a line and I'll be happy to critique you. I've been helping people out for years with anatomy, emotion, etc... no reason to stop now!
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Thank you very much
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I kow what you mean, bugs me too when a drawing or a manip is down perfectly except for the body language.
I used to have this horse who if his ears were constantly focused (rather then flicking back every once in a while) generally meant "I'm up to something and you're going to find out the hard way." We got a long great together since we both enjoyed a challenge, although he was almost frighteningly intelligent.
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Our Thunder is like that. A lot of people are horrified of him because when he approaches his ears are straight back, head down, eyes wide. It's pretty hard to convince people that he's harmless! Thunder is fearless, but won't so much as pass through a puddle in-hand unless you go through it. 
It mostly bugs me in drawings; photo manipulations hardly have this problem. For the most part the more "professional" manipulators put thought into that and come up with a solution. It's the lesser-skilled group that faces this issue a lot.
I think a lot of it has to do with ignorance about horses, brought on by Hollywood. Many people have never experienced having a horse in their life, so how would they know?
I think what bugs me the most is that I think a lot of people won't take this tutorial seriously. 
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hehe, my horse had no problems with water but had major issues with trot poles for some reason. He would rear buck sidestep bolt or whatever else he could think of to avoid poles (Including jumping the 5ft oxer nect to them). He had no real problems w/ anything else...just poles...I used to be able to see his head following the other horses on the course and if they refused or ran out it was virtually garrenteed he'd try the same thing.
I know, I can't even watch animated horse movies with my friends cuz I always mutter about mistakes made.
I hope ppl take the tut seriously but then they probably won't because their human and humans in general are just not that bright, probably why I prefer horses...
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I think you and I are going to get along swimmingly. 8D
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oh probably, I really need to get off my lazy but and finish the manip I'm working on...but I have no inspiration, don't you hate artist's block?
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Oh, it's just great.
Something I found though is to draw something (I read it somewhere, forgot where), even if you don't feel like it. Or before you know it, a break for a day turns into weeks... months... years. 
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I know what you mean, I haven't done anything in at least 3 months and while thats frustrating I can't seem to get enough motivation to do much.
I shall try to doodle something if for no other reason then to have done [i]something[/i] new
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This is very helpful, plus horses can sometimes fake it. I know my girl did alot
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It mostly depends on the handler. When I talked about the ears I believe I mentioned my 5-year-old gelding, Thunder Wolf. He constantly pins his ears and shows the whites of his eyes, but as soon as you touch him his ears are pricked and he's as sweet as can be. 
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Yeah, its very ture :3
I love horses like that :3
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Awesome! Unlike a lot of tuturials, this one really looks professional
Get on Skype sometimes!
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