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Pick Pony | March 21, 2024, 1:46 p.m.
If you can position yourself to watch the horses approach the paddock, look for those that seem eager. These horses will generally have a spring in their step without struggling against their handler, and won't be wasting energy jumping around.
Distinguishing between a positively animated walk and a nervous jig can be challenging. One way to tell the difference is to observe the horse's eyes, ears, and neck. Ideally, the horse will have a bright, curious look in its eyes, ears perked forward, and a slightly arched neck.
Horses that sweat excessively, to the point where white lather forms between their back legs or on their neck under the reins, are often signaling that they are nervous.
At the paddock, we will look for horses that demonstrate confidence and avoid those that appear nervous. Search for a horse that confidently observes its surroundings from its saddling stall, alert with its head up and ears pricked forward. However, ensure that it is not difficult to saddle.
Horses that consistently run out of their saddling stall or rear and kick violently are generally uncomfortable with racing.
Some horses may appear dull on their walk to the paddock. However, upon arrival, they might display a much more positive body language. Don't disregard a horse that stands calmly during saddling in favor of one that is constantly moving.
Observe the horses closely as they approach. Pay attention to their hair coat and other signs of vitality. A healthy horse typically has a shiny coat, short in the summer and luxuriant in the winter.
Keep in mind that overweight or out-of-shape horses can also have sleek, shiny coats. Therefore, look for muscle fitness evidence. Check for muscle definition. A smooth, rounded hip lacking muscle tone, which jiggles when the horse walks and shows no creases, usually indicates poor muscle fitness.
Pay attention to horses' demeanor while they're being saddled. Some horses may appear lackadaisical when approaching but become lively once saddled. Conversely, other horses may initially appear energetic but become lethargic after saddling. This latter behavior could indicate that a horse might not be mentally or physically prepared for the race.
As each horse walks on the track with a rider, it provides a final opportunity to understand what the horse is communicating.
Observe a horse that is walking straight, with an arched neck and a face perpendicular to the ground. A light bounce in its step or an animated walk, as well as a tail arched out from the buttocks, are positive signs. Conversely, negative body language includes horses holding their heads up (face horizontal to the ground), shaking their heads from side to side, nervously lunging forward, or spinning out to a 90-degree angle from the lead pony. Profuse sweating or walking so slowly that the lead pony rider appears to be dragging the horse are also negative signs.
Observe the horses as they leave the post parade for warm-up. If the lead pony begins to lope (or canter) while the racehorse continues to trot, this could indicate a potential issue. Ideally, a racehorse should start to lope within one stride of the lead pony doing so, and this should happen without much prompting from either the lead pony rider or the jockey.
While horses may not whisper, they communicate with us through their body language. When you next attend the races, take the time to appreciate the sights, sounds, and smells. Don't forget to pay close attention to the horses.
To understand a horse, you need to comprehend their behavior. Primarily, a horse is a flight animal, meaning its primary instinct is to flee from fear. This is evident when interacting with a horse. If the horse moves away from a handler on the ground, it's an act of respect and not an attempt to crowd or overwhelm the handler.
Horses possess a strong herding instinct, which often leads them towards a group of horses. For instance, if you are teaching your horse a showmanship pattern, it may try to move towards other horses lined up in the ring.
Many people blame the horse for such behaviors. However, rather than faulting the horse, it's essential to understand this behavior. As a handler, it's your responsibility to learn how to manage and control it. Keep in mind that while some behaviors can be minimized through training, others may persist.
Horses spend so much time in their stalls — up to 23 hours a day — that they can get really excited from being taken out of their stalls. That nervous energy is wasted long before the race starts.
Experienced horses know the routine, but if they’re hurting, they’re smart enough to know they don’t want to be there.
As the horses are led around the walking ring, be wary of horses that are dragging their feet and shuffling up dirt.
Pinned ears are a sign of indifference or anger and are a sure sign that the horse doesn’t want to be there.
Understanding a horse greatly involves interpreting its body language. Horses communicate with you through their ears, eyes, mouth, tail, and skin. Reading your horse means interpreting what it is trying to tell you through these bodily movements.
Observe the speed at which a horse's ears move. Rapid movement often suggests insecurity, such as alarm, nervousness, worry, or panic. Conversely, slow movement typically indicates the horse is relaxed, accepting of its surroundings, confident, and attentive.
Ear position is also important. If the horse quickly moves its ears forward, it may be alarmed or highly aware of something. If the ears move forward at a slower pace, the horse may be confident, happy, and interested in its surroundings.
If the ears slowly oscillate back and forth, the horse is likely very attentive to its surroundings and the handler's instructions. This is referred to as "the ears are working back and forth" and is a sign of an attentive, confident horse.
If the ears remain upright without moving back and forth, the horse may be aloof, bored, or focused. However, it can still be confident and relaxed.
Be concerned if the horse's ears are pinned back close to or touching the top of the neck. This can indicate the horse is extremely angry or resistant. Quick ear movements to the back signify anger, while slower movements may denote resistance or anger.
A horse's tail is crucial for communication and balance.
When the horse is relaxed, content, and confident, the bottom of the horse’s tail swings back and forth, forming a small "X" pattern. This swing occurs whether the top of the tail is relaxed, down, or held out.
A soft, side-to-side swish indicates a slight overreaction from the horse. This could be due to a challenging task or a strong cue from the rider.
A hard, side-to-side swing, similar to swishing at flies, shows significant overreaction. The horse may be upset or resisting what it's being asked to do, suggesting annoyance.
If the tail swings up over the back, it's a sign of the horse being extremely upset or resisting. This action is common with dominant horses in a herd signaling others to back away.
Some horses swing their tails up and down during work, often indicating less trainable attitudes.
Horses often hold their tails out from their bodies for balance, especially those with sensitive temperaments.
A horse that's relaxed, confident, and in correct self-carriage usually keeps its tail next to its hip. This is why tail alteration began: to make the horse appear relaxed and accepting, even if it's not.
If a horse isn't carrying a bit and habitually chews on his tongue, hangs it out, or displays a lot of mouth action, it could signify several things. The horse might be bored, frustrated, aggravated, or nervous.
Contrarily, if his mouth is closed and relaxed, it indicates that he's comfortable and accepting.
A horse that constantly sticks his tongue out may be lacking in intelligence, attitude, or temperament. It's as if he's using his tongue as a security blanket.
You can glean more insights when a horse has a bit in his mouth. A relaxed mouth, characterized by stillness and relaxed lips, nostrils, and mouth area, is always the most responsive.
A horse that rapidly mouths the bit is usually highly stimulated and keyed up. He might be nervous, afraid, or insecure, or he might be in anticipation, such as before running barrels or a race.
However, a slow mouth movement, such as a horse mouthing the bit with his tongue working up and down, is generally acceptable. He may be readjusting the bit, keeping saliva moving, or working the bit slightly if he's performing a slightly more difficult task, but he's still accepting.
Frequent mouthing of the bit, even if done slowly, can indicate other issues. It might be a sign of aggravation or resistance, indicating that he's confused and doesn't understand a difficult task. It could also suggest a mouth problem, such as needing teeth floating, wolf teeth extraction, or shedding of his caps (baby teeth).
If the mouthing speed increases, it might be necessary to reduce the bit's severity or allow the horse to wear the bit more and learn how to hold it better. It could be that the horse is irritated by the rider's hands, and the rider needs to make corrections.
If a horse gapes and holds his mouth open, he has learned to either evade the bit or use his mouth defensively to avoid harshness through the reins.
A large, dark, and gentle eye is ideal. It signifies a horse that's smart, intelligent, and confident.
When the eye enlarges, it means the horse is alert. If the horse is alarmed or worried, the eye grows even larger, particularly at the top. The eyelid raises, revealing more of the top of the eye.
If a horse appears bug-eyed while relaxed, it's often a sensitive horse that can be easily startled or become explosive.
Interestingly, when a horse is angry, its eyes will shrink. This trait is more common in stallions and horses that fight. If the skin beneath the lower lid wrinkles, be cautious; the horse is likely upset.
Horses with very small eyes, referred to as "pig-eyed," have poor visibility. These horses tend to be insecure, easily frightened, and often overreact to their surroundings and noises.
A horse's sensitivity can often be determined by its hair and skin. Horses with fine hair and thin skin are typically more sensitive, while those with coarser hair and thicker skin tend to be more docile and laid-back.
Sensitive horses will often communicate their feelings through their skin. If it twitches, as if responding to a fly, the horse may be overreacting, resisting, or resenting the rider's actions. On the other hand, relaxed skin indicates a relaxed and accepting horse.