Horse owners are often taught to watch for obvious signs of discomfort, such as pinned ears, tail swishing, bucking or resistance under saddle. But what if a horse's face could reveal more subtle clues about how it is coping long before those more obvious behaviours appear?
New research from the University of Guelph suggests that tiny changes in facial expression may provide valuable insights into how lesson horses experience their work and interactions with riders.
As part of her PhD research in Equine Exercise Physiology, Aveil Oberhammer used the Equine Facial Action Coding System (EquiFACS) to study the facial expressions of 35 riding school horses before, during and after both beginner and advanced hunter/jumper lessons. Unlike the Horse Grimace Scale, which was developed specifically to identify pain, EquiFACS is a comprehensive system that records individual facial muscle movements without assigning them an emotional meaning. Researchers can then investigate what those movements may indicate in different situations, from learning and communication to stress and welfare.
The study examined short video clips taken at five stages of a typical lesson: before tacking up, after saddling, after bridling, immediately after riding and following untacking. A certified EquiFACS observer analysed each clip, recording facial action units including eye movements, ear position, nostril shape and oral behaviours such as chewing and lip movements.
Some facial expressions are surprisingly difficult to interpret. Chewing, for example, has traditionally been viewed as a sign of relaxation, yet growing evidence suggests it may instead function as a self-soothing behaviour that helps horses regulate their emotional state. Similarly, nostril dilation may reflect physical exertion, heightened attention or anticipation depending on the circumstances.
"You need to be very observant," Oberhammer explained. "Doing it live is much harder than analysing video. Sometimes you're trying to determine whether a tiny lip movement is upwards or backwards because that changes the facial action score."
One of the study's key questions challenged a common assumption within riding schools: that beginner riders are easier for horses because the physical demands are generally lower. The findings suggest the reality is more complex.
Overall, rider ability alone had surprisingly little effect on the horses' facial expressions. However, certain groups of horses responded differently. Less experienced lesson horses, particularly those with fewer than three years in a lesson programme, were more likely to display facial movements such as nostril lifting, nostril dilation and tongue movements when working with beginner riders. Mares also showed more facial activity than geldings and exhibited more eye blinks, nostril movements and lip parting with novice riders.
These findings may reflect the additional mental effort required to interpret inconsistent rider cues. Horses constantly attempt to understand what their riders are asking, and unclear timing or conflicting signals may increase their cognitive workload.
"We know that horses learn from trial and error," said Oberhammer. "If they don't associate a certain cue with a positive outcome, they might just do nothing."
The research also highlighted how facial expressions changed throughout the lesson itself. Horses were most expressive before preparation began, showing a variety of movements around the eyes, nostrils and mouth. Overall facial activity declined after saddling and became even more subdued once bridled. Following the ride, oral behaviours such as chewing became more common again, suggesting horses may communicate differently once tack and riding pressures are removed.
The authors conclude that the greatest changes in facial expression were linked not to rider ability but to different stages of the lesson, potentially reflecting anticipation before work and recovery or relief afterwards.
As equitation science continues to reshape understanding of horse behaviour and welfare, subtle facial expressions are emerging as another valuable tool for looking "behind the bridle". While they should never be interpreted in isolation, careful observation of these quiet signals could help riders, coaches and instructors better understand how horses experience their work, refine communication and support more horse-centred training and management practices.
For more details, see:
Aveil Oberhammer, Caleigh Copelin, Lais Rabel, Katrina Merkies
Behind the bridle: Understanding facial expressions in lesson horses before and after riding.
Applied Animal Behaviour Science,(2026) Vol 300,106982,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2026.106982
Interested in learning more about subtle
behavioural cues, learning theory, and how horses communicate? Discover how the latest research in equine
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