The Ways In Which Your Horse Will Communicate Distress
Any horse owner will be familiar with the incredible intelligence that the noble animals display. In fact, horses are regularly rated as one of the most intelligent of all domesticated animals. One recent study conducted by Kobe University, Japan, found that, amongst animals, horses have the most varied and complex range of communication techniques. With such a fantastic range of communication methods available to them, this naturally makes horses great companions when it comes to alerting their owners about their needs. Having the knowledge to pick up on these signals is therefore an important part of being a good horse owner.
Your intuition
Potentially, the most important form of communication you have with your animal is unspoken. Horses have an uncanny ability to help sense and empathise with human emotions, to the point that equine therapy is, according to Psychology Today, one of the most widespread and effective forms of emotional therapy for adults. This unspoken, unconscious connection has led to the development of notable horse psychics who have further developed this connection in order to help owners become more in touch with their equine friends. On the same note, using a psychic can be a powerful way for humans to gain a greater understanding of their own self and the world around them; using a psychic to connect to yourself on a deeper level can help to provide depth to your relationship with your horse and appreciate their own language in a more specific way.
The noises, movements, expressions, thoughts and feelings that horses have are communicable with humans, and given this broad variety of communication types and their inbuilt intelligence, it allows opportunities for both unconscious communication and for using psychics to really get a detailed insight into the owner-horse relationship.
Physical movements
Horse riders will long have noticed that their horses communicate through tiny movements, most notably the movement of their ears. New research has shown that this is more important than previously thought, with National Geographic noting that ear and eye movements can be the difference between clear communication and no message at all. What does this mean for horse owners? Ears can tell a very particular message, and so you should get to grips with what your horse means with each movement. Using that, you can look out for any new movements, or keep an eye during stressful moments to learn how your horse reacts. This way, you can narrow down how their micro-movements indicate distress.
Finding hidden illness
Like many animals, horses will sometimes hide their illnesses. This is often due to their behaviour in the wild, where signs of illness would attract predators, and in certain groups, create issues within the same herd. Despite this, modern domesticated breeds are fairly open with their indicators of illness – but these indicators are not always immediately obvious, especially if the trainer or the animal are newcomers. Like the subconscious, almost psychic connection you develop with your animal, generating an innate understanding of their body language and how they should be acting will be greatly to your benefit. This is something that can only be developed with time and experience, but can often be a helpful tool in finding those little indicators that your horse isn’t completely happy – whether because of physical illness or psychological poor health. Compare this to humans – someone who is ill will often give signs long before it becomes a big issue.
Horses and humans aren’t so different, despite appearances. The essential intelligence of horses bestows on them a range of tools and communication methods that help them to develop a relationship and way of communication with humans that far outstrips that of many other domesticated creatures. Getting to know these ways of communicating will make you an ever better horse owner and help you to ensure that your beloved equine friend, stays happy and healthy, and enjoys the best life that they can.