One area that is often neglected in discussions of horse behavior, is the importance of the sense of touch in the horse's relationship to its environment and the humans in its life.
Horse and owner getting to know each other
As a prey animal, good eyesight, exceptional hearing, the ability to discern the odor of a predator on the breeze, and ability to discern the edibility of a plant by a touch of its muzzle could mean the difference between life and death for a horse.
An equine takes in and learns about its environment through its mouth and muzzle as it explores new or different places and people. A mare will reassure her foal with a brush of the muzzle. Horses communicate and scratch each others' itches with their teeth.
As a grazing prey animal, good eyesight and a wide range of vision, exceptional hearing, the ability to discern the slightest odor of a predator on the breeze, and the ability to discern the edibility of a plant by a touch of the muzzle could mean the difference between life and death in the wilds.
Not only are the mouth and muzzle important to the horse's sense of touch, but the skin is also. Although horse skin is believed to be tough, it has many nerve endings and can sense the tiniest fly landing on the horse's rump.
An astute horse owner knows the value of a pat on the horse's shoulder or a vigorous message over a tense muscle. Your touch tells your horse, "Hey, I'm your friend," and, in many cases, the horse will return the compliment with a touch or a look that speaks volumes.
Yes, a horse's senses are a determining factor in their behavior. Knowing the significance of your horse's senses and how they work in relationship to their environment will enable you to be a better keeper of your horse.