Understanding horses

If you have a dog, you will understand that animals do not always behave in the way you would like them to, no matter how well trained.

A major difference between horses and dogs is that horses are much, much bigger and 100's of times stronger!

Another difference is that horses are often quite nervous, if they get frightened they will try to escape from whatever it is that worries them.

This might be your car, or any movement or object at the side of the road ... Litter blowing in the wind, road signs, trees ...

Horses take exception to the strangest things. There ability to twist their ears also warns them of dangers.

The diagram above gives you an idea of what horses can see ...

Remember, just because they see you it doesn't mean that they are happy with your presence.

Single (monocular) vision makes it difficult for horses to measure absolute speed and position of things around them. This makes it common for horses to overreact to things behind them and beside them.

Click the forward arrow to find out more about horse riders ...