7d • General discussion
Learning Post: Unspoken Communication with Horses — What They’re Saying Before They Ever Make a Sound
Most problems with horses don’t start with behavior.
They start with missed communication.
Horses are masters of silent language. Long before a spook, refusal, bolt, or shutdown happens, the horse has already “spoken” — through posture, tension, breath, and timing. Learning to hear that conversation is one of the biggest skill upgrades any horse person can make.
Let’s break this down in a way that’s research-backed, trainer-approved, and immediately usable 👇
🧠 why horses respond better to nonverbal communication
Horses are prey animals with a highly developed sensory and emotional intelligence system.
Research in equine behavior and neuroscience shows:
- Horses read micro-movements in posture and muscle tension
- They respond faster to body energy than to verbal cues
- Their heart rate and stress levels synchronize with humans nearby (yes — your nerves talk)
Studies using heart-rate variability (HRV) show horses can detect emotional changes in humans before we’re aware of them ourselves. Translation?
👉 If you’re tense, distracted, frustrated, or rushing — your horse already knows.
👀 The 5 Silent Languages Horses Use Constantly
1️⃣ Eye & Head Position
- Soft eye, blinking → calm and receptive
- Fixed stare, high head → alert, uncertain, defensive
Ray Hunt famously said:
“The horse is never wrong. If there’s a problem, it’s the human misunderstanding the conversation.”
2️⃣ Feet Before Face
Horses tell the truth with their feet:
- Weight shifting away = discomfort or confusion
- Feet planted, leaning forward = curiosity or readiness
Training tip:
Before correcting a “behavior,” watch where the feet want to go. Often the answer is already there.
3️⃣ Muscle Tension (The Invisible Clue)
Tight jaw, braced neck, locked back = mental resistance
Soft topline, swinging tail, relaxed ribs = understanding
Buck Brannaman emphasizes:
“You don’t fix resistance by pushing harder. You fix it by releasing sooner.”
4️⃣ Breathing & Rhythm
- Shallow or held breath = stress
- Deep sighs, slow rhythm = processing and acceptance
Try this:
Slow your breathing before asking for something new. Horses often mirror it within seconds.
5️⃣ Energy & Intention (The One People Ignore Most)
Horses don’t respond to what you want — they respond to what you mean.
Tom Dorrance, pioneer of modern horsemanship, taught:
“The horse feels a feel, not a signal.”
If your body says “maybe,” your horse hears “don’t know.”
🛠️ Training Advice from Legendary Horsemen (You Can Use Today)
🟡 Monty Roberts — Pressure Without Fear
Monty’s work showed horses learn faster when pressure is:
- Clear
- Consistent
- Released immediately when the horse tries
👉 Silence + timing beats force every time.
🟡 Buck Brannaman — Release Is the Teacher
- Ask lightly
- Wait
- Reward the thought, not just the movement
If your horse tries, even a little — that’s your moment.
🟡 Ray Hunt — Stay Curious, Not Corrective
Instead of asking:
❌ “How do I stop this behavior?”
Ask:
✅ “What is the horse trying to tell me?”
That mindset alone changes everything.
🧩 Practical Exercise: Learn to “Hear” Your Horse in 3 Minutes
Next time you’re with your horse:
- Stand quietly — no asking
- Breathe slowly
- Notice: Head height Ear direction Weight shifts Muscle tone
Now ask for something very simple (one step, one bend, one thought).
👉 Did the horse hesitate before moving?
👉 Did their body change before the action?
That’s the conversation.
🔑 Final Thought
Horses are always communicating.
They don’t get louder — they get clearer.
When we learn their silent language, training stops being about control and starts being about partnership.
If you want:
- Fewer blowups
- Faster learning
- More trust
- A horse that wants to work with you
The answer isn’t more pressure.
It’s better listening.
💬 Discussion Prompt for the Community:
What’s one subtle signal your horse gives that you didn’t understand at first — but now see clearly?
Drop it below 👇
Let’s learn from each other.
1
0 comments
Learning Post: Unspoken Communication with Horses — What They’re Saying Before They Ever Make a Sound
powered by
skool.com/no-bucks-given-hoofcamp-6560
Here we are Empowering horse owners to train with heart, build bonds, and find joy in horsemanship—no bucks, just better rides! So saddle up Buckaroo
Suggested communities
Powered by