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Monty says, “We hear that ‘actions speak louder than words,’ but generally we do not live by it too successfully.” Now Monty has taught thousands of people worldwide how to build trust in animals through our actions and body language.
Monty’s principles really amount to common sense and immense patience. He believes that children and horses have the same behavioral patterns. They are both naturally “flight” animals. "If you frighten them and resort to confrontation, you’ll lose their trust." ~ Monty
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Horse Behavior and Training

Teaching horses sign language...

By:

Christena

Date:

2012-May-28 at 07:20PM

What are some thoughts on teaching a horse sign language? I was wondering if it would be a good thing to teach them or not. Seeing how they understand body laugage what about sign language?

phantommustang1 Walsenburg, Colorado, USA 2012-May-29 at 01:58PM

I dont know. Dogs seem to be able to learn it, so why not horses? You can try. Thats an interesting idea.

MaggieF, Melbourne - Australia 2012-May-30 at 04:23AM

We do tend to use signs a lot in our work with horses already so it would be just an extension of that so it should work. How we use our eyes, hands and body are all signs to our horses. Some of the signs I use for my dog I also use for Tricka eg. when I put my hand up with closed fingers and the palm facing her it is asking her to stop as she is approaching me.

Kicki -- Sweden 2012-May-30 at 07:51AM

Of course we can teach them sign language! As has already been pointed out here, we already "speak" to them with our body language.
That said, I suppose it depends on how you aim to use it. I doubt that you can have a conversation with full sentences, but certainly for a number of commands.
.
Horses seldom use vocal "commands" - not to the extent humans do anyway - so I'm pretty sure they will find it much easier to understand; given that we are very clear and consequential in what we do when we try to teach them.

Certified Instructor Ann Lindberg/Sweden 2012-May-30 at 08:42PM

Remember Hans the counting horse? You can even teach your horse just to read your eyes!
Warmest Ann

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Horse addict (From the good old USA) 2012-May-30 at 10:49PM

That's pretty cool, I had a riding instructor once who just took her finger and beckoned her horse, her horse came right to her.

Christena 2012-Jun-06 at 12:48AM

Thanks all. I am mostly working with my Burro. She so far understand:
Come (bringing both hands into chest)
.
Stop (Hand up palm forward and fingers open)
.
Stop now (Make a chapping motion with right hand onto your left hand)
.
Drink-water (drinking motion to mouth)
.
Come Left/Right (Point to what side I want her to go)
.
Food (point at mouth then tummy)
.
I plan on working with her on others suck as walk, run, and jump over item. She is picking things up really well.