What a horse’s ears are telling you

A horse never speaks, but it never stops talking. Start by listening to the ears.

Before every beginner ride we spend a few minutes on one thing: how to read a horse’s ears.

It matters more than how you hold the reins. The reins are how you talk to a horse; the ears are how the horse talks to you.

Up and forward

Both ears pricked and pointing ahead: the horse is curious, focused on something in front. A bird, a plastic bag, or just grass moving in the wind.

Your job isn’t to tense up but to look with it. Once you’ve seen what it is, tell it everything’s fine.

One forward, one back

Our favourite sight: one ear on the trail, one ear on you. The horse is working, and waiting to hear what you think.

A good rider is someone a horse is willing to keep one ear on.

Soft and to the side

Ears drooping loosely, eyes half-closed: relaxed, maybe a little sleepy. During the afternoon rest the whole herd wears ears like these.

Pinned flat

Both ears pressed back against the neck: the horse is unhappy. Another horse may be too close, something may hurt, or it may be warning you to back off.

When you see ears like that, give it space. Don’t walk behind it and don’t haul on the reins. Wait for the ears to come up again, then carry on.

More than ears

Horses talk in many other ways too. A hard swish of the tail means irritation; pawing means impatience; a long exhale means relaxation. A snort is sometimes just clearing the nose — and sometimes “I’ve noticed that.”

Each of our thirteen horses talks a little differently. Tianzhu almost never pins its ears; Simba’s ears never stop moving. Ride long enough and you get to know them the way you know a friend.

Next time, before you mount, don’t rush off. Stand beside the horse and watch its ears. It’s already saying hello.