A recent study has identified 22 distinct facial expressions in horses, revealing the complexity of equine communication. The research, published in May 2025, analyzed 805 interactions between horses.
Horses are social animals that form stable herds, requiring effective communication to share space and resources. Like humans and other primates, horses have a large number of facial muscles, allowing for a variety of expressive movements.
The study used the Equine Facial Action Coding System (EquiFACS) to identify specific combinations of facial movements associated with different behaviors. For instance, during aggressive interactions, horses exhibit flattened ears, lowered heads, and dilated nostrils. During play, facial expressions are highly dynamic, involving movements like depressed lower lips and open mouths.
These findings highlight the importance of considering horses' facial expressions to understand their subjective experiences and improve animal welfare. Identifying these expressions can aid in veterinary practices and human-horse interactions.
The research also identified similarities between horses' facial expressions during play and those used by primates and carnivores. This suggests that these expressions evolved much earlier than previously believed, indicating a common ancestral origin in playful communication among mammals.
These advances in understanding equine communication can contribute to more humane practices in horse management and training, promoting a more empathetic and effective relationship between humans and these animals.