
This may signal an illness such as colic, so it’s important that you monitor your horses symptoms and behavior to make sure that the blowing isn’t linked to physical pain. For example, they might blow and snort if they are in a new place or excited to be turned out.Ī horse will also make sounds like blowing and snorting when they are stressed due to pain. However, other instances when your horse might blow and snort are when they are stressed or excited. To an extent, a horse blowing or snorting after heavy exercise is normal, and you should offer them moderate amounts of water and walk them in a cooler rug to absorb sweat and cool down. This is because they are out of breath and their heart rate is increased after work, in the same way that humans will struggle to regulate their breathing after heavy exercise. You’ve probably seen a racehorse after a race, or an event horse after the cross-country phase, blowing heavily with red nostrils. Horses will blow or snort when they are either physically out of breath after work, excited, or getting worked up. And if you are lucky your horse will nicker to you, too. Mares and foals will nicker at each other as well. It is an affectionate sound that horses will use with their peers. Of all horse sounds, a nicker is generally a joy to hear! A nicker is a sociable sound that your horse will make with their mouth closed, moving their nostrils with their ears pricked forward to attention. In these cases, detective work is required.

Sometimes horses will groan if they are experiencing stomach pain or are generally feeling unwell. It’s always a good idea to investigate such behavior to rule out anything sinister. If he groans in pain when you mount, dismount, or land when jumping, your horse could be experiencing some saddle discomfort or general pain from an injury or soreness. If your horse groans and pins their ears back simultaneously, it probably means that they are displeased or in some sort of discomfort. GroanĪs with humans, horses may groan to express pain or discomfort, so this is one to keep an eye on. If this is the case, you could try mixing things up by riding in the field, doing some challenging pole work, or going on a hack with others. If your horse sighs when you are in the school or riding arena or when they are about to be ridden, they could be bored and expressing this. Similarly to humans, some horses sigh when they are tired or bored. In some cases, such as while being groomed or receiving massage therapy, it can signal that they are relaxed and calm or experiencing relief.

When a horse sighs, taking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly with audible sounds, it can mean a few different things. However, how much do you know about the more subtle noises that horses make to communicate in various circumstances? If you’re not sure what these noises mean, we’ve put together some helpful tips to help you better understand your horse and what exactly they are saying to you.

And you may also be familiar with the loud whinny that says, "Breakfast was to be served at 7:00 a.m. If you own your own horses or are regularly around horses, you’re probably acquainted with the friendly nicker that tells you that your horse is pleased to see you. Like most animals, horses make various noises to convey their feelings, using different vocal noises to communicate with both horses and humans. One way that horses communicate is with sounds, vocalizing their feelings. Granted, horses can’t speak your language, but horses and humans have fascinating ways of communicating with themselves and each other. Many equestrians have dedicated their lives to becoming behavioral experts and understanding the language of the horse, both physical and vocal. Ever wonder what your horse is saying to you? The language of equines is complex.
