ABSTRACT

This chapter focuses on horses' communication signals. There are many reasons why horses may be uncommunicative. It may be because they are not interested in a possible back and forth with the other object or the other type of stimulus. When horses are accompanied by people, it is possible that the people hinder them from showing communication signals, especially when they are being ridden. Another group of horses who no longer communicate or respond to stimuli from the environment are horses who seem to withdraw into themselves and completely shut down in reaction to a stimulus. Another form of withdrawal, of no longer communicating or responding to stimuli, involves horses who show stereotyped behaviour. Unfortunately, some horses are kept in circumstances under which they cannot display their natural behaviour. People can give the horse freedom of choice and play games with him, all to give him joy in life and avoid depression.