How Do Horses Communicate With Us?

Mad About Horses

Dr. Chris Mortensen, an experienced equine educator and researcher, takes listeners through the complexities and nuances of equine communication in this podcast episode of 'Mad About Horses'.

He explores the fascinating research related to wild equines, specifically the Somali wild ass, and their means of communication including body language, olfactory responses, and signals encoded in gene expression. He branches over to domestic horses and how they too communicate.

Dr. Mortensen further explains how horses can identify and respond to human emotions through vocal and physical expressions. He stresses the imperative need to understand horses' communication tactics, not only for constructive training but also to ensure their well-being.

Dr. Mortensen concludes by emphasizing the importance of gentle touch and positive vocal interactions in our engagements with horses, which he supports with compelling scientific studies.

Podcast Timeline

00:00 Introduction and Studying the Somali Wild Ass

00:40 Chemical Communication in Horses

01:41 The Role of Smell in Mate Choice

04:16 Introduction to the Host and Podcast Topic

05:47 Understanding Horse Communication

08:00 The Importance of Communication in Horse-Human Relationships

09:11 Recommended Reading for Understanding Horse Behavior

11:22 Understanding Horse Body Language

21:23 Facial Expressions in Horses

29:22 Vocalizations in Horses

29:50 Understanding Equine Vocalization

31:25 The Study of Horse Whinnies

32:38 Exploring Different Types of Horse Sounds

40:15 The Influence of Human Vocalizations on Horses

42:10 Understanding Aggressive and Affiliative Touch in Horses

44:50 Can Horses Indicate Choice to Humans

48:13 The Importance of Chemical Communication in Horses

53:50 The Future of Understanding Horse Communication

54:20 Final Thoughts

Visit https://madbarn.com/mad-about-horses/ to learn more about the Mad About Horses podcast.

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