Your horse’s eyes will tell you a lot about what is going on inside their head…how they’re feeling and what they’re thinking.

If the horse’s eyes are soft, half-closed, relaxed looking, the horse is happy and content, maybe thinking about taking a nap. This is similar to the horse thinking deeply about something, possibly processing, whether it be during a training session or while getting a massage. This is a good sign. It means the horse is thinking about what is going on in a relaxed manner. He will probably lick and chew after contemplating for a few minutes.

You can also tell if a horse is stressed by his eyes or if he’s frightened. This looks different from an angry or grumpy horse. There’s a look of panic or pain or fear in his eyes, whereas an angry horse looks more intent and focused.

A horse that is sick or is not feeling well will have a distant, cloudy look in their eyes.

It’s important to be able to look at your horse’s eyes and notice what they’re telling you. The eye gives very subtle signs but can give you huge insight into your horse’s mind, body, and spirit.

(free photo from Canva - https://www.canva.com/ )

~ Saddle Up