Horses are among the most beautiful animals and can form close bonds with human companions. It is no wonder that many people fall head over heels with their horses! Yet how do you know if your horse loves you back? Luckily, there are many ways to tell if your horse likes you.
10 Signs That A Horse Likes You:
- Your Horse Is Relaxed In Your Presence
- A Horse Shows Affection By Grooming You
- Your Horse Approaches You And Follows You Around
- They Respond To Your Commands
- They Will Rest Their Head On You
- They Want Your Attention
- And More…
1. Your Horse Is Relaxed In Your Presence
When a horse is mellow around you, it is a clear sign of trust. A horse that does not like or trust a person will generally avoid their company, and when forced to mingle, they can be tense and on guard.
There are few things as satisfying as gaining the trust of a prey animal. If your horse feels comfortable enough to completely relax in your presence or even fall asleep, you know you have gained their trust! They say that they know you are not a threat and, more importantly, you will look out for predators.
If you are a new equestrian and unsure of your horse’s body language, look out for the following signs of a relaxed horse:
- Ears that face to the side
- Lowered head – often combined with relaxed ears that turn to the sides
- Cocked hind leg – a relaxed horse will often place his bodyweight onto one hind leg, switching legs occasionally
- A relaxed gaze
2. A Horse Shows Affection By Grooming
Horses show their affection to their peers by grooming each other. From a young age, horses are groomed by their mothers, and as they mature, they continue grooming each other as a gesture of love and care.
Mutual grooming among horses signals familiarity and helps in strengthening relationships. If your horse “grooms” you, it is a clear sign that they like you and see you as part of the herd. You have gained the acceptance of your horse, and they are showing you how much they love you.
3. Your Horse Approaches You And Follows You Around
A horse that follows when they are on a lead is obedient, but it is not to say that they like you. However, when a horse is free-roaming in the field and willingly and eagerly approaches you, you can be assured that your horse likes you.
A free-roaming horse that follows you around wants to see what you are up to. They are interested in what you are doing, feel content around you, and want to be in your company.
Because horses communicate mostly through body language, keeping your body language neutral or positive will create a comforting atmosphere for your horse and ensure that they continue to willingly approach you. Positive body language includes a calm demeanor, relaxed eyes and posture, and self-confidence demonstrated through decisive actions.
4. They Respond To Your Commands
If a horse doesn’t like you, you will have difficulty getting your horse to listen to you and follow your commands. A horse that responds to commands without fear of negative reinforcement does so through free will. In other words, your horse likes you and wants to listen to you.
Responding to your commands is also a sign of respect. Horses, especially mares, can be stubborn creatures. Respect is part of a horse’s love language, and they will not respect a human or another horse that they dislike. A horse has no problem blatantly ignoring the instructions of someone they are not fond of!
Listening to your commands shows they trust your guidance and respect you enough to follow through.
5. They Will Rest Their Head On You
Resting their head on you is similar to hugging you. In a herd, horses often rest their heads on the curve of each other’s backs to show affection. Sometimes horses will take a nap in this position, but more often, mutual grooming will follow head resting.
When a horse truly likes you, they will approach you and gently rest their head on your shoulder or head to show you how they feel. If a grooming session follows a head rest, you are one loved equestrian!
6. They Want Your Attention
Horses that like their human companions can become quite needy. They will follow their human around and beg for attention. Should you be distracted by chores or not give them immediate attention, a horse will often give you a gentle nudge to say, “I’m here, and I want attention!”
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A gentle nudge on the shoulder will likely get your attention, but they may paw the ground if that doesn’t work. Pawing can mean a few things depending on the context, but when it follows a nudge, it is merely a sign of your horse getting impatient with waiting for attention.
7. They Whinny And Nicker
While most horse communication is non-verbal, there are verbal cues that a horse can display to signal that they like you.
When horses greet each other, they make a soft sound with their vocals while keeping their lips slightly sealed. This sound is called nickering, and it’s a sign of happiness. A horse that nickers at you likes you and is happy to see you.
In addition to nickering, a horse will often whinny to show how much they like you. A whinny sounds similar to a neigh but is softer and more muffled. Horses whinny when they feel content, so it’s a good sign when your horse whinnies when they see you or spend time with you.
8. You Can Approach Them While They Are Lying Down
A horse is in a vulnerable state when they are lying down. It can take them several seconds to transition from a lying pose should they feel threatened, and as a prey animal, this time delay could mean the difference between life or death.
Hence, when a horse allows you to approach them while lying down and don’t feel the instinct to get up, they trust you and feel safe around you.
Another sign that your horse trusts and feels safe with you is allowing you to touch their sensitive areas, such as their ears or bellies.
9. They Will Breathe On Your Face
Horses are herd animals, and if your horse treats you like part of the herd, it is one of the finest gestures that your horse likes you!
In a herd, horses show affection by blowing air from their nostrils onto each other’s faces. This loving act is almost like kissing and can be accompanied by soft snorting sounds.
Returning this act of love can strengthen your bond and show your horse that you are equally fond of them. However, blowing too hard can be seen as a sign of aggression, and on top of that, horses have an excellent smell, so only try this if you are gentle and confident that they will find your breath pleasant.
Avoid breathing on them if you are a smoker or follow a carnivorous diet. On the contrary, many horses love the smell of mint.
10. They Respect You
Lastly, when a horse likes you, it will be evident in their general behavior towards you. A horse that likes you will show respect by listening to you and trusting your leadership. Horses have a great understanding of boundaries, and when they like you, they will respect your personal space.
Conclusion
Horses have complex emotional lives reflected in their body language and facial expressions. Like humans, horses are individuals, and each horse has their own way of communicating.
As you spend time with your horse, you will learn their “love language.” However, learning the basics of horse body language will go a long way to understanding your horse.
