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 4 Signs of Defensive Horse Behavior

 

These signs often show up when a horse is unsure, anticipating, fixating, or doesn’t fully understand what’s being asked. The earlier you can recognize the subtle behaviors, the sooner you can address them, which helps to diffuse or prevent unwanted future dramatic responses.  As I try to gently remind folks, the horse is always communicating, it is a matter of if the human is listening.

 

1.)   Tight or Braced Body Language

What it may look like:

• Stiff neck

• Tight jaw

• Rigid back

• Braced knees and hocks

• Inconsistent breathing

• Little or infrequent blinking or “shut down” expression

• Little to no ear movement

What it means:
The horse’s physical behavior reflects his mental and emotional state. When there is tense or braced posturing, the horse’s mind in not “with” his body. So, if you are trying to “ask” something of him, he will give you little to no response- usually followed by an explosive reaction if the human keeps adding pressure as the horse is “ignoring” (he isn’t) them.

Now what:
Take one step back- literally. Practice visually scanning the whole horse. What do you see? What IS he doing (one section of the body at a time,) and what can you communicate that creates a, “Not that, but how about this?” specific, redirecting of his thoughts and addressing the ROOT of the brace… Example: Many horses are “heavy” in their jaw, neck, and shoulders, without people realizing the resistance starts in the horse’s locked hocks- the outcome is the heaviness in his front end.

 

2.)   Avoiding Your Request

What it may look like:

• Leaning on the lead rope or rein

• Surging forward, short/chaotic steps

• Pushing against hand, leg, or seat aids

• Rocking back before stepping forward

• Starting forward steps by drifting the hindquarters

• Looking opposite from where the horse is moving

What it means:
Their defensive responses reflect holes in the communication and unaddressed concerns in the equine. It isn’t about “obedience”- but instead, one needs to break down how they communicate something (i.e. look, step, change energy, halt, etc.) and then assess in real time how the horse responds to the cue. Nine out of 10 horses I meet are defensive toward spatial and physical pressure used to communicate on a daily basis. Just because a horse is “trained,” or is older, or has done something “many times” does not mean he is okay with it.

Instructional tip:
Break your request into smaller steps. Learn to recognize the horse’s default patterns when mentally fleeing and physically resistant. Practice improving the small segments before putting them together in a larger request. If you have “options” in how you can influence the horse’s mind and movement- you can use similar communication in a variety of scenarios – which is why I say leading, going through a gate, lining up for the mounting block, and trailer loading are all the SAME – they use the same “ingredients” to create different outcomes.

 

3.)   Reactive When the Routine Changes

What it looks like:

• Tension when you change a pattern of interaction (catching, grooming, groundwork, where you mount/dismount, etc.)

• Increased energy

• Fixation

• Calling out to nearby horses

• Emotional “spillover” when asked something new

What it means:
Humans have justified creating patterns in horse interactions for as a manner of convenience to the person. It can allow for things to be “fine” because of the repetitiveness. The reality is, the more patterned the horse becomes- the less adaptable for any change, whether it be someone different handling/riding, unfamiliar scenarios, unexpected things moving (i.e. the blanket suddenly hanging on the arena wall,) and many “small” changes can trigger the totally compliant horse to become highly defensive and dramatic. When the pattern changes, defensiveness appears because they have not learned the skills to adapt which triggers fearful behavior.

Observational tip:
How, what, why, where, when do you do ANTHING with the horse… starting even when you halter- do you ever change things up? What happens if you do something minor, such as head out to the stall/pasture with the halter, and don’t catch the horse?

Perspective:

The horse is doing the best he can with the information you’ve given him. If the equine is easily triggered by any sort of change- there are holes in his education- despite him complying in the routines you’ve created. The kindest thing you can do is educate the horse to be adaptable- this is literally a life saving skill for whatever he encounters in the future- people, scenarios, different owners, etc.

 

4.)   Defensive Around Other Horses

What it can like:

• Ear pinning

• Biting at the Air

• Head shaking

• Stomping

• Kicking at the air

• Teeth Grinding

• Charging

• Tail Swishing

• Pushing at/walking into the handler

• Fixating on another horse’s movement

• Being hyperalert

What it means:
This is often rooted in individual and herd insecurity. Aggressive behavior is a sign of defensiveness. The most socially dysfunctional horses tend to be aggressive. Keep in mind many humans created herds are NOT balanced nor are they calm. Despite perhaps acres of space, it does not mean a horse will automatically thrive in a herd. A variety of factors influence how the horse functions in the herd, which affects his behavior when handled or ridden near other horses.

Awareness tip:
Feed routines/locations, diet imbalances, sleep deprivation, human interactions, pain/physio issues, previous training, all influence how a horse functions in a herd, as well as the degree of “functionality” of the other herd members.

Observe:

Every aspect of the aforementioned influences another, there isn’t just “one” solution. In all the socially dysfunctional horses that have arrived over the years, I consistently see changes in the herd dynamics as their re-education or rehabilitation evolves. Most horses are on a diet of convenience vs one that is appropriate for the individual equine. Why are you feeding what you are? Do you ever see the horse sleeping or indications on his coat that he has slept? What behaviors do you see at feeding times- is the horse in a reactive state, how does he chew, is there chaos in the herd?

Experiment:

As you start to make small changes, it will take a little time for adapting- don’t expect sudden improvements immediately.

 

 

 

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