Visible white of eyes

We

S

The eyes are round in shape and the white in the eye is visible as an expression of greater tension.

Long nostrils

N

S

The horse’s nostrils are long in shape, which means the nose is relaxed.

Rounder nostrils

Rn

S

The nostrils become rounder with tension. The nostrils may go from long to round and back again as the horse smells and breathes more heavily, which are not included as rounder nostrils.

Soft, closed lips

L

S

The horse’s mouth is closed with soft lips without wrinkles around the muzzle, which means the mouth is relaxed.

Rim of lower lip

Ll

S

The mouth and lower lip are relaxed, allowing the rim of the lower lip to be seen in front of the upper lip.

Clenched lips

Cl

S

The mouth is squeezed together making wrinkles around the mouth and lips, which means a light tension around the mouth.

Extension of the upper lip

Ul

S

There is a light to clearly visible extension of the upper lip as an expression of greater tension.

Actively moving ears

Ae

E

The ears often move back and forth without pauses with a standstill.

COMMUNICATIVE SIGNALS

Blinking

B

E

The horse makes a marked blink where the eyelids are clearly pinched. It does not include fast, not clearly defined blinking.

Half closing eyes

Hc

E

The eyes are kept half closed for between 2 and 10 seconds.

Looking away

La

E

The horse changes his viewing direction. It differs from head turn and neck turn by both ears are directed in the viewing direction.

Chewing

C

E

Without food in the mount, the horse is doing the same rotating movement of the lower jaw and possibly also producing sound. The tongue is not visible.

Tongue out chewing

Ct

E

The movements made with tongue out chewing are the same as with the chewing described above. The horse makes a rotating motion with the lower jaw, possibly also producing sound. However, as he rotates his lower jaw, the tongue is pushed straight forward, out of the mouth, and then retracted again. This can happen several times in succession.

Yawning

Y

E

When yawning, a horse opens his mouth for several seconds. The upper lip is retracted, and the upper and lower teeth are visible. Sometimes the eyes roll back slightly or are half closed. The ears turn sideways during the yawn.

Head turn

Ht

E

The horse turns his head to the side while the neck and body remain stationary. The head turns can be to both sides. One ear points forwards and the other ear points in the direction of the diffuser/handler.

Neck turn

Nt

E

The horse turns his head and neck to the side while the torso and feet remain in the same fixed position. The neck turn can be to both sides. One ear points forwards and the other ear points in the direction of the diffuser/handler.

Neck shake

Ns

E

The horse’s head and neck are between the horizontal and mid-high positions. The horse pushes his nose forwards. The head and neck of the horse moves in a short, side-to-side shaking motion a number of times while the horse’ torso stays still. The eyes are closed.

Body shake

Bs

E

The horse lowers his head and neck to a horizontal or mid-low position. The nose is extended forwards slightly. He makes a sideways shaking motion with his body, starting at his head, then moving to his neck, his torso, and finally flowing into his tail. Sometimes the mouth is slightly open during this shaking.

See-saw lowering

Ss

E

In 1 second, the head goes from a high, mid-high, or horizontal position to a mid-low to a low position. Then, within 1 to 5 seconds, the head is lifted back up to a mid-high or high position.

Sustained lowering

Sl

E

The horse moves his head and neck from a high, mid-high, or horizontal position to a mid-low to low position in a single second. This pose is held for 5 - 25 seconds, after which the head is lifted to a mid-high to high position again.