If his ears are flicking back and forth, your horse is probably frightened or overly stimulated. He is flicking his ears around to pinpoint the source of his anxiety. If his ears are perked forward, he is alert and interested in his surroundings. If his ears are pinned back tightly, he is angry or feeling aggressive and may be preparing to lash out with a kick or bite. [4] X Expert Source Jessica RudeEquine Expert Expert Interview. 18 September 2020. If his ears are turned outward to the sides, he is relaxed and not paying attention to his surroundings. Be careful not to startle him by approaching or reaching out toward him suddenly.

You might also notice your horse’s muscles getting very tense. In addition, their eyes might get wide and their nostrils might flare. [5] X Expert Source Jessica RudeEquine Expert Expert Interview. 18 September 2020. If your horse raises his head high while rounding his back, swishing his tail, or pinning his ears back, he may be in pain. Stop and check his legs and around his tack to be sure nothing is hurting him.

Pawing at the ground with a raised leg usually indicates boredom or restlessness. Excessive stomping may mean your horse is annoyed with you for some reason. If you don’t resolve the situation, your horse may move on to more extreme behavior next.

A horse clamps its tail down by tucking it lower into its hindquarters. If your horse is pressing his tail down against his body, this is a sign that he is nervous or frightened. If your horse is jerking his tail rapidly up and down or side to side, he is probably irritated or angry and may be about to buck or kick.

Snorting indicates your horse has identified a potential danger, and is investigating it. If your horse shies away from something after snorting, this indicates fear.

Horses do this when they are curious about something, or when meeting another horse. If the horses get along, they will calmly continue to snort in greeting. If they feel threatened, one or both animals will squeal or nip at the other. If your horse blows and then becomes tense or shies away from an object, he is showing signs of fear.

A squeal indicates resistance to something – your horse may not be afraid, exactly, but he is not happy about what he’s being asked to do.

A whinny or neigh does not indicate fear. Your horse is trying to determine where his companions are. When another horse hears a neigh, he will usually whinny in return. This lets the first horse know he isn’t alone.

Point your horse’s head toward the worrisome object, so he can get a clear look at it. Meanwhile, allow your horse to back away or step to the side.

Push gently on your horse’s neck or withers, which will help loosen your legs while anchoring you in the saddle.

The horse might also have a fight response—you can usually tell that’s happening if they pin their ears flat against the back of their head. If that happens, they could charge, kick, or bite you. [13] X Expert Source Jessica RudeEquine Expert Expert Interview. 18 September 2020.

Drag (or roll) the object around in front of your horse, leading away from him. Allow your horse to follow you. Don’t approach your horse with the object, or drag it towards him – this will probably frighten him. Pull the object around calmly, until your horse becomes curious and comes to explore it. This may help get rid of his fear of this type of object.

Place the scary object at the far end of your ring or paddock, and ride your horse in small circles in the center of the ring. Gradually ride in wider circles until you are closer to the object. Don’t get so close that your horse spooks. Praise your horse for remaining in control, and repeat the exercise another time. Ride closer to the object each time.

You can also read books about horse care and behavior. [17] X Expert Source Kate JutagirEquestrian Specialist & Trainer Expert Interview. 31 March 2020.