French researcher Dr Lea Lansade and colleagues studied equine body language in a grooming study—specifically facial expressions—related to positive emotions (though Dr Lansade adds “in our scientific jargon, we don’t really use the adjectives like ‘happy’”). Her previous studies centered on horses’ expressions of discomfort and other negative emotions, as well as what constitutes good and bad grooming.
“Riders usually recognize the positive facial expressions when those expressions are obvious…But sometimes, these expressions can be much more subtle.” Her study urges riders to pay attention to negative expressions, too. “Identifying subtle signs of discomfort from the outset is crucial because then you can immediately change the way you’re brushing… Being able to read our horses’ facial expressions (and in this case in particular, their lips) helps us improve communication considerably.”
Horses were groomed horses in two different ways. In the “standard” way, grooming was carried out in a traditional method and continued regardless of how the horse reacted. In a more attentive way, groomers stopped certain movements when the horse showed signs of discomfort and continued other movements when the horse showed signs of pleasure.
Researchers could observe images of the horses’ faces but not which kind of grooming the horse was receiving. ….
“Smiling” expressions (though Dr Lansade adds “in our scientific jargon, we don’t really use the adjectives like ‘happy’”) included having necks moderately raised, eyes half-closed, upper lips extended and perhaps twitching, and their ears pointing backward almost in line with the nose.
“Riders usually recognize the positive facial expressions when those expressions are obvious—like protruding lips that sometimes move a little bit, and half-closed eyes,” she said. “But sometimes, these expressions can be much more subtle. If you look closely, you can see just the upper lip just slightly stretching forward. That’s something that few riders actually notice.
Pay attention to negative expressions, too. “Identifying subtle signs of discomfort from the outset is crucial because then you can immediately change the way you’re brushing,… Being able to read our horses’ facial expressions (and in this case in particular, their lips) helps us improve communication considerably.”
The study, “Facial expression and oxytocin as possible markers of positive emotions in horses,” was published in Scientific Reports.