Guide to Equine Behavior

This guide provides you with a basic understanding of equine behavior.  Understanding the history of domesticated horses, how they perceive their world and you, and how they communicate among themselves and with you is of fundamental importance in owning and caring for your horse.

In the pages that follow, we cover these important topics:

• The history of domestic equine behavior
• The equine psyche
• Equine senses and how they relate to behavior
• Equine language: facial, vocal and body
• Horse rhythms and movements from walk to gallop and in between
• Using behavior to your advantage when training your horse
• Recognizing and preventing stereotypies
• Behavioral changes from foal to aged equine

This guide focuses on essential and basic information that every equine owner should know for understanding equine behavior and using it for the benefit of you and your horse.  For a more in-depth understanding, visit our Behavior Health Center and read one or more blogs on horse behavior, or visit our behavior forum where you can discuss and learn more from other horse owners.