The importance of communication with one's horse

One of the greatest difficulties of equestrian sport comes from the fact that it requires a collaboration between the horse and the man. As a result, coaching is about teaching them how to work together. If the rider manages to communicate properly with his horse, they will become more accomplices and will be able to shine in their discipline.

The language of horses

Naturally living in a group, the horse uses many media (visual, olfactory, sound, tactile, etc.) to communicate with his peers. Thus, all his senses are constantly awake to receive any messages from his vis-à-vis. Licking, for example, is already a form of communication for these equines.
Sight plays a vital role in the communication and social life of horses. The information is transmitted through parades, facial expressions, postures, etc. On the other hand, the body language proves quite complex in this animal. Indeed, it is necessary at the same time to take into account all the movements at the level of each part of his body (naseau, tail, ears and position of the neck).
In general, posture and tone provide valuable information about the health and emotional state of a horse. The rider must be attentive to these signals to know the overall condition of his horse. Moreover, the passage between each posture is often progressive. In other words, the animal performs a set of postures announcing the next. It is therefore possible to anticipate his next movements and possibly his reactions in a given situation.
Several postures are frequently observed in the horse, including the grazing horse, looking away and standing at rest. When on alert, the equine tends to adopt a posture easy to recognize: the head up, the tail slightly raised with ears fixed and facing forward.

Why communicate with your horse?

Communication with his horse is based on observation, analysis and a great deal of intuition. By observing it carefully, the owner or rider is able to identify his emotional state as well as his intentions. However, the relevance of this analysis requires upstream observation of equine habits and trends.
The behavior problems of horses often come from a misunderstanding between species. Since man does not perceive his reactions to pain or other more subtle messages, the equine tries to multiply the supports and can even resort to violence. In other cases, the animal just turns a deaf ear and is more and more reluctant to exercise. It is therefore essential to improve as much as possible the communication with his horse.
In case of motor disorders or chronic diseases, the horse often informs his interlocutor through the many communication media at his disposal. However, it is difficult to identify the problem, its origin and its treatment, if the owner or the rider does not take the time to interpret the signals emitted by the equine.
In addition to serious situations, communication with the horse is important in many cases and in the daily maintenance of his protégé. For example, by being receptive to the "language" of the animal, it is possible to determine the best time to proceed to weaning without affecting the baby or the mother.