While each horse is different, here are some common behavioral signs that can help you tell if if your horse is happy, sick, or painful, as well as keep you safe.
Experienced horses are a steadying force in paddocks, study findings suggest horsetalk.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from horsetalk.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Study: Fearful Foals Make Fearful Horses Sponsored by:
A Danish study sought to decode behavior in foals that might indicate which ones may become fearful adults. Fearful horses can be dangerous if placed in uneducated hands; if bred, they can pass the trait on to their offspring.
Drs. Janne Winther Christensen, Carina Beblein and Jens Malmkvist note that horses will always face situations that can scare them, but through habituation and breeding for a calm demeanor, they can be trained to not flee.
Horses that are scared can be more dangerous to people; the researchers note that everyone involved with horses, from those who breed to those who play sports and teach others how to ride, have a responsibility to try to reduce accidents. They also suggest that it is unethical to breed fearful animals as it has a negative impact on animal welfare.