Nothing earth shattering, just a curiosity. I've heard various beliefs about horses and eye contact - it's BAD, it's GOOD, it's A THREAT, etc.
A friend has a new horse. Brand new, less than a few weeks with her. He's VERY sweet with a lot of personality and curiosity. My horse is the same way, tons of personality, lots of facial expression in his eyes, ears, mouth, etc.
My friend had dismounted and had a water bottle in one hand. She was standing beside and to the front of him, but looking over at us and talking. She was kind of facing him but looking at us. She took a drink from the water bottle and he watched her every move, ears pricked forward. Watched the bottle go from her side to her mouth, then watched her drink, then followed the bottle back down.
He then looked at her face, then back at the bottle, repeatedly, a few times. He had almost a "what about me?" inquisitive look on his face. "Can I have some?" He tried to get her attention.
My horse does this all the time. He watches my every move usually. Not stalking like, but just curious. He will do the same thing as her horse where he will look at something, then look at me, look me right in the eyes, then back at the thing. The thing can be scary, like a malfunctioning fan, or something he wants, like a carrot. He has different levels of insistence in his expression.
If he really wants something, like the carrot on the table, and I haven't responded to the attempts to get my attention, he will raise his front leg, as if to paw, but he won't actually paw or stomp, just lightly put it down and maybe a tiny scrape along the mat. If I even say his name he puts it down and stops. He doesn't paw, and he isn't rewarded for this behavior. But I think he is trying to communicate what he wants.
I make eye contact all the time with him, and he doesn't avoid it. He makes eye contact with me, too, and a couple of times, I SWEAR, he has given me "that look," when I've done something not smart.
I'd love to think it is a bond we have...but I'm thinking it is also just that type of horse.
My friend's horse was CLEARLY trying to communicate with her, and he barely knows her. She's ridden him about 3 times and hasn't spent tons of time with him yet.
I've read the different theories on eye contact, and I'm not sure what I believe. I do think it varies horse to horse, but would love other opinions.
A friend has a new horse. Brand new, less than a few weeks with her. He's VERY sweet with a lot of personality and curiosity. My horse is the same way, tons of personality, lots of facial expression in his eyes, ears, mouth, etc.
My friend had dismounted and had a water bottle in one hand. She was standing beside and to the front of him, but looking over at us and talking. She was kind of facing him but looking at us. She took a drink from the water bottle and he watched her every move, ears pricked forward. Watched the bottle go from her side to her mouth, then watched her drink, then followed the bottle back down.
He then looked at her face, then back at the bottle, repeatedly, a few times. He had almost a "what about me?" inquisitive look on his face. "Can I have some?" He tried to get her attention.
My horse does this all the time. He watches my every move usually. Not stalking like, but just curious. He will do the same thing as her horse where he will look at something, then look at me, look me right in the eyes, then back at the thing. The thing can be scary, like a malfunctioning fan, or something he wants, like a carrot. He has different levels of insistence in his expression.
If he really wants something, like the carrot on the table, and I haven't responded to the attempts to get my attention, he will raise his front leg, as if to paw, but he won't actually paw or stomp, just lightly put it down and maybe a tiny scrape along the mat. If I even say his name he puts it down and stops. He doesn't paw, and he isn't rewarded for this behavior. But I think he is trying to communicate what he wants.
I make eye contact all the time with him, and he doesn't avoid it. He makes eye contact with me, too, and a couple of times, I SWEAR, he has given me "that look," when I've done something not smart.
I'd love to think it is a bond we have...but I'm thinking it is also just that type of horse.
My friend's horse was CLEARLY trying to communicate with her, and he barely knows her. She's ridden him about 3 times and hasn't spent tons of time with him yet.
I've read the different theories on eye contact, and I'm not sure what I believe. I do think it varies horse to horse, but would love other opinions.
I wish that were the extent of what he wishes he could teach me. 
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