Horse Body Language
May 2, 2013 20:19:06 GMT -8
Post by Eclipse on May 2, 2013 20:19:06 GMT -8
(This is originally contributed by Night Sky Equines's RPG Guide. I do not own this, and all the credit goes to them.)
Horses do not smile or wink or cry or laugh. They DO, however, express the emotions associated with these actions. They just express them differently than a human would. Horses are amazingly complex, emotional creatures, but they have their own ways of expressing all those emotions. So here's a guide for you! It's designed to be simple and brief in nature for quick-reference. Whenever you're writing a post and are having trouble conveying a human-like emotion without human-like actions, you can refer here for a couple quick tips.
Positive Emotions
ExcitementRaised Tail: Horses will generally raise their tail when they're excited. Stallions and mares also tend to raise their tails when they're about to mate.
Bursts of Energy: Excited horses will sometimes dart about crazily, galloping for a length before stopping abruptly, pricking their ears, then changing direction and suddenly galloping off again. This can also sometimes be a sign of anxiety, but usually when it's accompanied with bright eyes, a raised tail and a generally perky attitude, they're just excited.
Bright Eyes: Horses with bright, alert, expressive eyes are happy horses!
Ears Pricked Forward: Usually, this is a sign that a horse is alert and engaged, though it can also indicate alarm sometimes.
Bucking: Although bucking can sometimes be aggressive, horses also like to buck (aka: kick out with their hind legs) to release pent-up energy and will buck when overly-excited.
Whinnying/Snorting: Just like humans, horses will whinny (or “talk”) for a variety of reasons. The tone and shrillness of the whinny indicates what emotion the horse is feeling, but regardless, horses will whinny when they feel strongly about something.
Prancing: When a horse takes high steps while standing mostly in one space, they can either be anxious or excited.
Pawing the Ground: Pawing the ground is a sign of restlessness, which can be for both good and bad reasons.
Head Tossing: Head tossing, while sometimes a negative thing, is usually just a sign of excitement or restlessness.
ContentmentDroopy Eyelids: Just like humans, when a horse is really chilled-out and relaxed, his eyelids droop. Of course, eyelid drooping can also be because of fatigue.
Tail Swishing: While urgent or frequent tail swishing can be a sign of irritation, lazy, relaxed tail swishing is usually a sign that a horse is feeling content and relaxed.
Yawning: Of course, horses will yawn when they're bored or sleepy, too, but sometimes a nice big yawn is just the right way for a horse to express that they're feeling chill.
Weight Shifting: Constant or agitated weight shifting can indicate a problem, but occasional, relaxed shifting of weight indicates contentment. Horses will often prop up one hoof when standing still for a long period of time.
Lowered Head/Neck: A lowered head and neck is usually a sign of relaxation.
Relaxed Muscles: Self-explanatory. A horse's muscles are loose and relaxed when they're content.
Parrot Jaw: When a horse is in deep concentration, his upper lip will extend and hang over his bottom lip.
AmusementSnorting/Whinnying: Just like humans, horses will whinny (or “talk”) for a variety of reasons. The tone and shrillness of the whinny indicates what emotion the horse is feeling, but regardless, horses will whinny when they feel strongly about something.
Head Tossing: Head tossing, while sometimes a negative thing, is usually just a sign of excitement or restlessness.
Bright Eyes: Horses with bright, alert, expressive eyes are happy horses!
Restlessness: Restlessness can be due to a variety of reasons, both good and bad, but bouncy, energetic horses are usually just happy or amused by something.
Neutral Emotions
FatigueDroopy Eyelids: Just like humans, when a horse is really chilled-out and relaxed, his eyelids droop. Of course, eyelid drooping can also be because of fatigue.
Yawning: Of course, horses will yawn when they're bored or just relaxed, too, but sometimes a nice big yawn is just the right way for a horse to express that they're feeling tired.
Lowered Head/Neck: A lowered head and neck is usually a sign of relaxation.
Reluctance to be Active: You wouldn't want to go for a run if you were tired, would you? Neither would a horse, but there's a difference between sleepiness and lethargy. Extreme lethargy can indicate serious illness.
Sweating: Fatigue due to extreme physical exertion will leave a horse sticky and sweaty. In cooler temperatures, their bodies will actually steam, but they can get sick in those conditions, just like a human can.
Stumbling/Misplacing Hooves: Horses that are forced to continue to work when they're very tired will start losing coordination, stumbling and misplacing their hooves. When this happens, your horse needs a nice, long rest!
HungerNipping: Hungry horses will nip at anything and everything they could possibly digest. Of course, they also do this even when they're not hungry, sometimes, the greedy little gluttons, heh heh.
Chomping/Chewing: Chomping or chewing on thin air can also be a sign that a horse is hungry.
Stomping/Pawing: Although this is more just a general sign of impatience, horses get very impatient when they want food!
ThirstLicking: If a horse is licking its lips or moist surfaces, he's probably thirsty.
Fatigue Symptoms: Horses get tired quicker when they're really thirsty, just like humans do.
Swallowing: Just like humans, horses will swallow a lot when they're really thirsty.
BoredomPacing: Pacing back and forth or around in circles can be due to restlessness caused by boredom. Horses need to be active and have lots to stimulate their minds and bodies!
Yawning: While yawning can be from fatigue or contentment, it can also be a sign of boredom.
Chomping/Chewing: Chomping or chewing on thin air can also be a sign that a horse is bored. Frequent chomping can wear down teeth and cause a lot of health problems.
Frequently Shifting Weight: Constant or agitated weight shifting can indicate a problem. Most likely, the horse is anxious or feeling restless/bored.
Restlessness: General, agitated restlessness can be a sign of boredom. Walking around in circles, pacing and nervous shifting are all restless signs.
Negative Emotions
AngerEars Pinned Back: When a horse pins his ears back, it usually indicates fear or aggression, but sometimes, a horse will flick an ear back to listen to what's behind him.
Pawing/Stomping: Although this is more just a general sign of impatience, horses will paw or stomp when they are annoyed or irritated.
Biting: Horses will sometimes nip each other when they play, but when they're mad, they can really take a chunk out of someone!
Kicking: Horses will kick with both their front and hind legs when attacking, and flying hooves with the force of a thousand pound animal behind them can be lethal.
Rearing: Horses will rear up on their hind legs when they are extremely upset or angry, sometimes lashing out with their fore hooves when they do so.
Whinnying: Just like humans, horses will whinny (or “talk”) for a variety of reasons. The tone and shrillness of the whinny indicates what emotion the horse is feeling, but regardless, horses will whinny when they feel strongly about something.
Teeth Bared: A horse baring his teeth is usually a sign of aggression, though it can sometimes indicate tooth pain. A horse will bare his teeth as a warning sign before he bites.
Narrowed Eyes: When a horse narrows his eyes, he's either upset or in pain.
Tense Jaw and Muzzle: Tense facial muscles can indicate either anger or pain.
SadnessLethargy: Horses get depressed, too! Extreme lethargy can indicate extreme depression or severe illness.
Sighing: Horses will sigh when they're feeling down in the dumps.
Listless/Dull Eyes: Dull, inexpressive, disengaged eyes are an indicator of a sad or sick horse.
Reluctance to be Active: Even if a horse isn't completely lethargic, they still might act lazier than normal if they're not happy.
Lowered Head/Neck: A lowered head and neck is usually a sign of relaxation, but when it's accompanied with lethargy, sighing and dull eyes, that's a sign of either a depressed or ill horse.
Hallow Spots: When a horse gets really sad, the area above his eyes sinks down. This can also occur from malnutrition.
FearTrembling/Shaking: Of course, horses can shiver from being cold, too, but trembling is usually a good indicator that a horse is extremely frightened.
Prancing: When a horse takes high steps while standing mostly in one space, they can either be anxious or excited.
Eye Rolling/White-Rimmed Eyes: Horses have very large irises, so the white part around their irises usually isn't visible. Horses will roll their eyes and widen them when they're afraid so if you can see the whites of their eyes, they aren't happy.
Whinnying: Just like humans, horses will whinny (or “talk”) for a variety of reasons. The tone and shrillness of the whinny indicates what emotion the horse is feeling, but regardless, horses will whinny when they feel strongly about something.
Ears Pinned Back: When a horse pins his ears back, it usually indicates fear or aggression, but sometimes, a horse will flick an ear back to listen to what's behind him.
Rearing: Horses will rear up on their hind legs when they are extremely upset or angry, sometimes lashing out with their fore hooves when they do so.
Head Tossing: While head tossing can just be due to playfulness or excitement, horses will also toss their heads in agitation when they're upset.
Fleeing: Horses are generally more likely to run than fight when they're afraid, but individual personalities may vary, of course.
LonelinessConstant Whinnying: Although whinnying can be due to a variety of reasons, constant, high-pitched, whiny whinnying can indicate that a horse is feeling lonely and is calling for other horses to socialise with.
Pacing: Pacing back and forth or around in circles can be due to restlessness caused by boredom. Horses need to be active and have lots to stimulate their minds and bodies!
Lameness: Frequent pacing can put a lot of strain on a horse's legs, so he may start to walk with a limp if he's been doing that for a long period of time.
Weight Loss/Ulcers: Loneliness can actually cause so much anxiety in a horse that they develop ulcers, which can lead to weight loss. They're naturally herd animals and need to socialise with other horses.
Pain/IllnessBiting at Flanks/Stomach: This is usually a sign that a horse is experiencing pain or discomfort in that area and can be indicative of severe digestive or intestinal problems.
Loss of Appetite/Weight Loss: A variety of illnesses can make a horse lose his appetite and stop eating. Since horses are almost always eager to munch on something, this is a serious issue and so is the weight loss that accompanies it.
Lethargy: Horses get depressed, too! Extreme lethargy can indicate extreme depression or severe illness.
Tense Jaw/Mouth: Tense facial muscles can indicate either anger or pain.
Irritability: Just like humans, horses get impatient and grouchy when they're not feeling well.
Narrowed Eyes: When a horse narrows his eyes, he's either upset or in pain.
Uncomfortable Pacing: If a horse is pacing uncomfortably (i.e: wincing, limping, groaning, etc...) he's probably in pain due to an illness or injury.
Rolling: Sometimes, a horse will roll around when he is happy and frolicking, but a constant urge to roll can be a sign of colic or other intestinal problems. Horses can actually twist their intestines and die from this.
Shivering: Shivering even when it's not cold and feeling warm, but shivering are both indications of illness.
Weakness: Muscle weakness and lethargy are big signs of illness or depression.
Lameness: Horses can go lame for a variety of reasons, either due to injury, stress on the joints or leg muscles, or illness.
Some Other Things Worth Noting
Human ReferencesI've noticed that people often use human measurements or refer to human-made things in their writing, even though they're supposed to be writing from a horse's perspective. I know sometimes you forget and things slip, but just be aware of falling into this trap when you roleplay.
TimeHorses do have a concept of time, but they rely on weather patterns and the sun to determine time. Things like seconds, minutes, hours, days, months and years mean nothing to them so please don't use them in your writing.
MeasurementHorses don't know what a centimetre, metre, kilometre, inch, foot, mile or hand is. They determine distance by their surroundings and the geography of their location. I don't care what sort of measurement you use in place of this, but try not to use human measurements.
ObjectsUsing similes and metaphors using human-made objects doesn't make sense because horses don't know what the heck those things are, especially not wild horses. Even if your horse has had contact with humans in their past, they wouldn't know the word for a train or car or barn. They would most likely think of it as "the rolling creature" or "the two-legged thing". That sort of idea.
Chill OutDon't worry. The above aren't hard-core rules and you're not going to get banned if you accidentally use a human reference in your writing, but just be aware of these common fallacies in realistic wild horse roleplaying and be conscious about how you phrase things. You'll find that eventually, you'll just do it without thinking about it and it'll become second nature to avoid these mistakes.