Facial Expression and Body Language – Part 4 of 5
Another common concern is when people see their horse standing still with his head lowered for periods of time. Is he depressed? Or is he just resting?
Horses can sleep standing up, due to an inbuilt locking mechanism in their legs, meaning that they can stay upright without any conscious effort on their part. Their sleeping pattern is quite different from ours in that they have frequent, short periods of sleep throughout a 24hr cycle, rather than one long one. It is also important for them to be able to have times when they can lie down and sleep more deeply. In order to do this they need to feel completely safe. This allows them to enter REM sleep and to engage in full rest and repair.
Sleep deprivation can cause illness, just as it does in humans
One of the key things is always to know your horse’s normal temperament. Observe him regularly and then you will be able to read him more easily.
Symptoms that could indicate depression are:
- little interest in other horses or activity
- standing still for long periods
- being overly-calm, possibly indicating that the horse has ‘shut down’
- a lack of interest in food
If you would like to know more about Equine Body Language, or about care for your horse in general, I have created a series of videos which are available through my website: www.equenergy.com or by following this link: If Horses Could Talk video series
You can read the full article here
Please also feel free to contact me with any questions, comments, or to book a session with me for you and your horse:
My journey into working in the field of Wellbeing began when I joined an online course in Evolutionary Enlightenment. This caused me to take a hard look at my life – my career, my direction, my purpose – and question whether or not it was really right for me. The answer was No. I was lost, struggling and unhappy.
Searching for something that would resonate for me and that would support my need to grow, I started learning Reiki which, in a roundabout way, led me back to one of my passions: animals. Horses in particular hold a very special place in my heart. I love supporting owners to explore their horse’s physical and emotional needs.
I went on to study Energy Healing, Emotional Freedom Techniques and META-Health because I also love supporting other women who are experiencing similar experiences of stress and overwhelm. I love holding a safe space where they can discover that they have always had choices and the power to make their own decisions.
email: robyn@equenergy.com
mobile: 07980 669303
