Generally speaking, horses have few body parts they can use to express their thoughts, so the range of "language" they can produce is naturally limited. Even so, for modern people accustomed to communicating through language and text, understanding equine communication requires learning, observation, and practice in order to grasp the horse’s language and achieve psychological connection with them. Horse body language is not very complex, and is described in sequence as follows:
Nose: Flared nostrils indicate excitement or fear; snorting signals impatience, unease, or dissatisfaction.
Mouth: When the upper lip curls upward, it shows extreme excitement; chewing the air without food indicates humility or submission.
Eyes: Wide, round eyes show anger; showing the whites of the eyes signals nervousness or fear; slightly closed eyes indicate tiredness.
Ears: Ears pricked forward together show alertness; ears pinned back tightly against the neck signal an intention to attack; ears moving back and forth indicate everything is normal.
Neck: A neck that arches inward with tense muscles shows strength or intimidation; a neck that sways up, down, left, or right indicates helplessness. Limbs: Front legs raised high, pawing at objects, or front hooves alternately stomping the ground indicate anxiety.
Hind legs lifted: Kicking or bumping the belly—if not to shoo away insects—may indicate abdominal pain.
Tail: A tail held high shows high spirits and energy; a tucked tail indicates fear, timidity, or weakness; frequent tail swishing without flies signals displeasure.
Additionally, rolling once or twice is a way to relax the body; repeated rolling often indicates abdominal discomfort or illness; rearing and kicking the air or standing upright shows high morale; a horse’s whinny varies in length and urgency, conveying meanings such as calling to companions, signaling danger, expressing hunger or thirst, and reflecting various emotions like joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure.
