Horse Communication and Human Understanding: Improving Welfare Through Better Listening

Horses communicate their emotional states, pain, and preferences through behavioral signals that humans frequently misinterpret. Improving human literacy in equine communication is a high-leverage welfare intervention.

Key Facts

The Equine Facial Action Coding System (EquiFACS) has identified 17 distinct facial action units in horses that convey emotional information
Horses show consistent facial expressions of pain — the Horse Grimace Scale has been validated for pain assessment
Ear position, eye softness, and muscle tension around the mouth all provide reliable emotional state information
Horses who display behaviors traditionally labeled "resistance" or "disobedience" are frequently in pain
Social bonding in horses is expressed through mutual grooming (allogrooming) — horses with allogrooming partners show lower cortisol
Horses show learned helplessness behaviors after repeated unsuccessful attempts to communicate discomfort to riders or handlers
Research shows that horses can intentionally communicate with humans by touching symbols to indicate their preferences

Welfare Considerations

Human illiteracy in equine communication is a significant, addressable source of equine welfare harm. When horses show what we label "resistance" — reluctance to go forward, bucking, rearing, biting when girthed — these behaviors are usually attempts to communicate discomfort or pain that the horse has found no other way to convey. The traditional response — increased pressure, punishment, or stronger equipment — suppresses the communication without addressing the underlying welfare problem and creates a learned helplessness that is itself a welfare harm. The welfare transformation available through improved equine communication literacy includes: recognizing subtle pain signals before they escalate to dramatic behavior, understanding that cooperation and willingness are indicators of welfare, and treating behavioral changes as diagnostic information rather than disciplinary problems.

What You Can Do

Learn the equine facial expression indicators of pain and stress from validated research-based resources
Treat behavioral changes under saddle as potential welfare signals requiring veterinary assessment, not training problems
Study horse social communication — understanding natural herd behavior deepens interpretation of individual horse expressions
Work with trainers who demonstrate understanding of equine behavioral communication
Support research developing horse communication assessment tools that can be practically applied by equestrians
Advocate for equine communication training in equestrian education curricula at all levels