When Horses Get Anxious: Reading the Signs Before Trouble Starts
Episode 909 – Afraid of Your Shadow
An astute rider knows the “big spook” rarely comes out of nowhere. Horses telegraph their emotions with all the subtlety of a mime in a glass box—if you know what to look for. The problem isn’t that horses hide their anxiety; it’s that most riders notice only the grand finale, not the entire opening act that led up to it. When you learn to catch those early signals, you can step in long before the horse feels the need to demonstrate his athleticism.
Horses are prey animals with a herd mentality, and they’re constantly communicating—mostly with each other, but also with you. In a herd, one horse stiffens, another raises an ear, and before you know it, everyone’s on high alert about the possibility of a mountain lion… or, in domestic life, a feed bucket blowing across the yard. Your horse reads your body language the same way. When he senses something concerning, he sends you a memo. Whether you read it or toss it in the trash determines how the next few minutes go.
The early signs of anxiety are easy to miss if you’re focused on anything else. The walk tightens into short, quick steps. The head elevates, the topline braces, and the ears start working like a pair of independently operated radar dishes. The muzzle gets tight; worry lines may appear. Sometimes the horse seems mentally absent, as if he’s logged out for a software update. And don’t overlook the tail—when it gets stiff and twitchy, that’s the equine equivalent of, “I’m not loving this.”
This is also the moment when the rider’s response can save the day—or fuel the flames. It’s human nature to grab the reins, clamp with the legs, or hold your breath when the horse feels a little worrisome. Unfortunately, those are exactly the cues that tell a horse, “You’re right, something is wrong.” Restricting his feet increases panic. Adding random leg pressure confuses him further. And when the rider freezes, the horse assumes danger is imminent. From there, it’s a short trip to the dramatic behavior most people think came “out of the blue.”
Intervening early doesn’t require heroics—just awareness and a plan to ride proactively. Acknowledge what the horse is feeling, then redirect his energy into something familiar and easy: bending, yielding the hindquarters, a purposeful forward walk, and changes of direction. Give his feet direction and his mind a job. Ride through the moment instead of shutting him down. Confidence is contagious; when you stay relaxed and proactive, your horse starts to believe everything really is okay.
Anxiety isn’t disobedience. It’s communication. Horses are constantly telling us how they feel; our job is to listen early, respond thoughtfully, and avoid turning a whisper into a shout. The more skilled you become at reading the small stuff, the earlier you intervene, the fewer “surprises” you’ll have to sit through. If you want to deepen your understanding of horse behavior and communication, my video “Speak the Language” is an excellent resource—available on DVD or STREAMING It’s a masterclass in reading horses accurately and responding in a way that builds trust and compliance.
To see how I teach riders to redirect anxiety and restore calm, watch the supporting video on my 3-Step Circling Exercise here:
It’s a simple, proven tool I use every day to help horses get back in their thinking brains.
If you’re ready for deeper coaching, ongoing feedback, and a structured path to becoming the rider your horse can rely on, join my Interactive online coaching program. You’ll get personalized guidance, assignments, and direct support from me as you build skills like this in a progressive, confidence-building format.
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Your horse is communicating. Let’s make sure you’re equipped to listen—consistently, confidently, and with skill.
