Understanding Sensory Dominance in Horses: Sight vs Hearing in Herd Dynamics

Exploring How Horses’ Sensory Strengths Shape Their Behaviour Individually and in Groups

Horses are fascinating creatures, not just for their beauty and power, but for the remarkable ways they perceive and interact with the world. Just like people, horses have individual sensory strengths—some are more visually oriented, while others rely more on their acute sense of hearing. These dominant traits influence everything from how a horse reacts to a sudden noise to its role within a herd. Drawing on concepts explored by Kerry Thomas, an authority in equine behaviour and sensory profiling (www.kerrythomas.com), let’s unpack how dominant sight and hearing impact horses in herds and when they're on their own.

Herd Behaviour: The Power of Sensory Diversity

In the wild, horses rely heavily on group dynamics for safety and communication. A herd is, in many ways, a patchwork of unique sensory strengths. Horses with dominant sight are quick to spot movement, picking up on the flicker of a predator in the distance or the subtle shift of a mate’s body language. In contrast, those with dominant hearing are the first to prick their ears at the faintest rustle in the grass or distant thunder.

This sensory diversity serves the herd well. When a visually dominant horse tenses at something in the distance, the others become more alert—even if they didn’t see it themselves. Likewise, if a hearing-dominant horse reacts to a sound the rest haven’t caught, the group will often trust its cue. Over time, horses learn which members of their herd have the sharpest senses in different domains, and they come to rely on each other, creating a living, breathing early warning system.

When Strengths Become Weaknesses

However, sensory dominance also means vulnerabilities. A horse with less acute hearing might miss an approaching threat if it’s masked by the wind, but another with sharper ears will pick it up. Conversely, a hearing-dominant horse may not notice a silent movement in its blind spot, relying instead on its sight-dominant mates to sound the alarm. The herd’s collective awareness is greater than the sum of its parts because of this interplay of strengths and weaknesses.

Solo Behaviour: Navigating the World Alone

When separated from the herd, a horse’s dominant sense becomes even more critical. A sight-dominant horse might scan its environment more obsessively, reacting quickly to visual stimuli, sometimes even to its own shadow. In contrast, a hearing-dominant horse may seem more twitchy, ears constantly swivelling and reacting to every little sound—even those with no obvious source. These horses may appear more anxious or distracted when alone, as they have no herd members to cover for their weaker sense.

Reading the Signs: Expressions of Sensory Dominance

So, how can you tell if a horse is sight or hearing dominant? Kerry Thomas, through his work in equine sensory profiling, identifies several subtle cues in a horse’s behaviour and expressions (www.kerrythomas.com):

• Sight-Dominant Horses:

  • Alert, wide-open eyes; frequent scanning of the horizon

  • Quick head movements in response to visual stimuli

  • Less focus on sounds unless paired with movement

  • May freeze and stare intently before reacting

How horses see vs how humans see

• Hearing-Dominant Horses:

  • Highly mobile ears, swivelling towards noises

  • Startles more to unexpected sounds than sights

  • May pause and “listen” with head raised, nostrils flaring

  • Sometimes less visually engaged with their environment

Anatomy of horse ear

Noticing these traits can help handlers and riders better understand their horse’s unique perspective, tailor training techniques, and provide reassurance in stressful situations. For example, a sight-dominant horse may benefit from calm, visible cues, while a hearing-dominant one might respond better to soothing vocal commands.

Tailoring Training for Sensory Dominance: Sight vs Hearing

Understanding whether a horse is sight or hearing dominant can transform your training approach, making sessions more productive and less stressful for both horse and handler. Here are some considerations and strategies to tailor training, as well as tips for fostering self-management based on these traits:

Training Sight-Dominant Horses

• Use Visual Cues: Incorporate clear hand signals, body language, and objects into your training. Sight-dominant horses respond well to visible changes and deliberate movements.

• Minimise Visual Distraction: Ensure the training area is free from excessive movement or clutter that could overstimulate or distract the horse.

• Encourage Self-Management: Allow the horse time to observe and process new environments or obstacles. Gradually increase exposure to different visual stimuli, building confidence and reducing reactivity.

• Monitor Expressions: Watch for intense staring or frequent scanning as indicators the horse is processing information visually. Gentle reassurance and consistency help these horses settle.

Training Hearing-Dominant Horses

• Use Vocal Commands: Soft spoken cues, whistles, or clicker training can be particularly effective. Hearing-dominant horses tune in to the tone and pitch of your voice.

• Control Sound Environment: Minimise sudden noises and gradually introduce new sounds, helping the horse acclimate without overwhelming them.

• Support Self-Management: Encourage relaxation and focus by rewarding calm responses to new or unexpected sounds. Training in quieter environments can help build the horse’s confidence in managing auditory stressors.

• Monitor Expressions: Notice how frequently the horse’s ears swivel or how quickly they react to noises. Pauses for attentive listening are a sign of auditory processing; positive reinforcement can help these horses trust and settle more easily.

Identifying Self-Management Strengths

Whether sight or hearing dominant, horses that are supported in their sensory strengths often develop better self-management skills. Sight-dominant horses, given space and time to observe, learn to interpret and make decisions based on what they see. Hearing-dominant horses, trusted to respond to sounds, become more balanced and less reactive over time. Trainers can track progress by noting reductions in startle responses, more sustained attention, and an increase in confident, independent behaviour.

By recognising and working with each horse’s unique sensory profile, handlers can empower horses to manage stress, adapt to new challenges, and thrive both in the herd and solo. For deeper insights into equine sensory profiling and herd dynamics, explore the pioneering research and methods of Kerry Thomas at www.kerrythomas.com.

Conclusion: Embracing Equine Sensory Intelligence

Understanding the dominant senses of horses is not just an exercise in curiosity—it’s a practical tool for improving welfare, training, and herd management. By recognising the signs of sensory dominance and appreciating how horses compensate for each other’s weaknesses in a herd, we can foster stronger, more harmonious relationships with these remarkable animals.