Are Horses Affectionate? (Answered!)
A few weeks ago, I was sitting on my grandmother’s back porch, having an iced tea with her, and watching the horses roam in her neighbor’s field.
I asked her if she often goes over to the fence to pet them.
Her face split into a wide grin as she said that she believes the neighbor’s horses like her more than their owners.
She explained to me the horses’ reaction whenever she goes over to say hello to them.
Her description made me wonder about the dynamics of horse relationships, and particularly the question: are horses affectionate?
The answer to this question is, in short, yes. Horses are herd animals, and, as such, they form social bonds with other horses, their human caregivers, and even other domesticated animals. Horses show affection to their friends, whether equine or human, in various ways.
While every horse has a distinct personality, we can make some generalizations about the average horse.
Are horses affectionate with humans?
Horses can be very affectionate with humans.
Generally, horses have to know and trust a person before they behave affectionately, but that isn’t surprising.
Surely you wouldn’t enjoy a random stranger petting you on the head, so why would it be any different for a horse?
So, a strange horse probably won’t be very interested in you unless your pockets are full of carrots and sugar cubes.
However, if you put time and care into the relationship, you might be surprised how loving horses can be.
How do horses show humans affection?
How can you tell if a horse likes you?
Here are some signs:
They follow you around.
They nuzzle you.
They rest their head on your shoulder.
They listen to your commands.
They gently nudge you.
They try to groom you.
They come when you call.
They greet you vocally.
How can you tell if your horse has bonded with you?
If your horse behaves towards you in the affectionate ways listed above, you can be sure that you and your horse are building a bond.
The best way to tell if your horse has bonded with you is to pay attention to your horse, pay attention to their body language, get to know them.
Once you have spent enough time with them, you will be able to tell when your horse is relaxed and happy versus when they are stressed out, frustrated, or scared.
Are horses affectionate with each other?
Horses are capable of forming deep friendships with one another and can be quite affectionate with those friends.
In a large group of horses, you can easily tell which horses are pals, and which horses don’t care for each other.
It is as simple as observing their body language.
Horses often form mini-groups within the larger herd, just as humans form cliques within social groups.
How do horses show each other affection?
Like other social animals, horses have a variety of ways to show each other that they care.
These markers of affection include:
Greeting each other with soft whinnies and nickers
Going everywhere together
Standing close to each other
Grooming or scratching each other
Resting their heads/necks on each other’s backs in a sort of “hug”
Sharing food/water with their friends
Do horses like to be petted?
Most horses enjoy being petted.
However, there are good and bad ways to approach a horse.
First of all, always ask the horse’s owner before approaching or attempting to pet a horse.
Be aware that horses’ eyes are on the sides of their heads, so they have significant blind spots.
If you approach from the back or at a weird angle, you may spook them.
A frightened horse is not likely to react well to petting, so, to avoid this, always approach horses from the side head/neck area.
Extend your hand for the horse to sniff before you try to touch them.
They should make it clear at this point if they do not want to be touched by moving away, pinning their ears back, etc.
Horses tend to prefer scratching and rubbing to gentle petting, but every individual horse is different.
Some might not like to be touched at all.
Always watch the horse’s body language for clues about how they are feeling.
For example, ears pinned back is a bad sign, and you should stop whatever you are doing.
Do horses like hugs?
The answer to this question is that it’s all about context.
I would not recommend throwing your arms around a strange horse’s neck, but your horse may love hugs.
Whether or not horses like hugs ultimately comes down to the relationship between you and the horse you want to hug.
It’s best to respect the horse, give them time to get to know you, allow them the first gestures of affection.
If a horse rests their head on your shoulder, that’s their version of a hug, and maybe they wouldn’t mind a bit of a hug back.
Can horses be friends with other animals?
If properly introduced, horses can be friends with and live happily around many other animals.
Sheep, cows, goats, and other herd animals can be great companions for horses.
There are also many cases of horses developing affectionate relationships with domestic pets like cats and dogs.
Controlled, gradual interaction is the best way to introduce any animal to your horse.
It might also be wise to forgo bringing your hyper puppy who loves to nip ankles around a skittish horse.
You have to factor in the distinct personalities of all the animals involved and be aware that not all animals will necessarily get along.
In conclusion, horses can be affectionate with humans, other horses, and even other domesticated animals.
Horses require patience and time to get acquainted and build trust.
Once a horse is comfortable with its surroundings and those around them, it will show its affection in various physical and verbal cues.