look into my eyes

Stable Eyes

Look Into My Eyes

They say the eyes are a window to the soul, and I believe this is true of horses as well as people.

Whether you are looking for a sure bet at the racetrack, the right horse to purchase, discernment to make you a more effective trainer, or a better relationship with your horse by understanding his in-born temperament and personality – there is a lot of information and insight to be found in a horse’s eyes if you know what to look for.

The first type of eye that comes to mind is the look of a very scared, high strung, potentially dangerous horse. When we first form a picture of such a horse in our mind, we usually see him being forced to do (or not do) something. Along with the bulging eyes, the rest of his body language immediately shows the high degree of tension: pointed ears, flaring nostrils, muscle tension, arched neck. However, learning to “read” a horse’s eye while he is relaxing in a familiar environment can help you prevent or more effectively deal with such difficult situations.

A horse with a tight, round eye is always “on the edge.” He is very mistrusting, and always ready to flee from danger, which he perceives all around him. While resting or grazing, this eye may not have the bulging appearance that it has when upset, but always seems to have muscle tension around the corners drawing it into a tight circle. His focus seems to be narrow, intense and constantly shifting.

This type of horse may be quick to exhibit two other signs of stress through their eyes. If the eye seems to be drawn up at the top as if stretching to form a triangular shape, with wrinkles or creases forming in the skin just above the eyes the horse is trying to tell you he is very unsure and apprehensive. He can not perform with confidence or do what you command because he quite simply does not understand what is being asked. Effectively working with such a horse will require the handler be very clear and very consistent with their commands. Inflicting any type of physical punishment on such a horse justifies his fears and raises his level of apprehension to the point that learning is impossible.

If when working with a horse a white ring appears around the edges or sclera when he starts to get upset, the horse is truly a danger. Such horses have repeatedly proven themselves unstable, with unpredictable panic attacks (sometimes misinterpreted as aggression) injuring themselves and their handlers. This is not to be confused with a consistent white edge or ring around the eye that does not change with the horse’s stress level. Such coloring is normal in the Appaloosa breed and is most commonly seen in horses that have a blaze (white marking running down the length of the face).

It is a wise and perceptive horseman that can distinguish between the hard, tight, round eye of a flighty, unstable type of horse and the large round eye of a champion. It has been said that the horse with a large round eye has, “the look of eagles.” Such a horse is not easy to handle. He is bold and independent. However, he does not waste energy being apprehensive about many things and his mind is clear and quick to learn when handled with respect. Being able to distinguish between the two can also pay off well at the race track.

It takes a minimal amount of study and expertise to identify the small narrow eye characteristic of another type of horse. This horse is rarely eager to work, and does not look for or seem to enjoy being praised lavishly. This type of eye has earned the lable, “pig eyed.” This type of horse will do only what is necessary to avoid unpleasantness. You will rarely, if ever, see a race horse in the winner’s circle with this type of eye because these horses typically do not have that illusive characteristic of all great winners and competitors – heart.

The majority of horses have very subtle differences in their wide set, predominantly oval shaped eyes that reveal the basically gentle nature of the equine species. The eyes are perfectly suited for a grazing animal, preyed on by carnivores, that survived by living in herds and relying on the instincts of fight or flight. The subtle differences can alert us to particular personality traits and allow us to know and deal with each horse as an individual.

In her book, “Getting in TTouch,” Linda Tellington Jones identifies 15 different characteristics to look for in a horse’s eyes and tells you about the corresponding personalities of each. She also shows you how to put together several physical characteristics for a through understanding and evaluation of each individual horse you meet. She looks at not only the eyes of a horse, but also other parts of the head such as the profile, where bulges and bumps are located, the jowl, the muzzle, mouth, lips, nostrils, chin, and ears. Ms. Jones has also identified many characteristics that appear to correlate with the swirls or cowlicks that a horse’s coat displays.

The more time you can spend with horses, the more perceptive you are while around them, and the more tools you have available to help you understand and influence their behavior the more you will appreciate that each horse is a unique, special individual.