Horses and Ponies are herd animals and used to living as part of a group, feeling secure in the company of other equines and familiar surroundings. They are timid by nature and their natural reaction to danger is to flee.

The horse's sense of hearing is very acute and its sense of smell is also good enabling it to sense danger some distance away.

A horse is a very senstive animal and able to sense the feelings of those nearby particularly hestiation, fear, confidence and anger.