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Everything Horses and Livestock Magazine
©Everything Horses and Livestock
|
February 2017
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EHALmagazine.comIn our last Issue we ask our Readers
“Why Do Horses Yawn?”
As promised, I have some answers and theories
about why horses yawn. Some owners say they
have never seen their horses yawn and assume
they do not. But rest assured horses do yawn even
though most plant-eating mammals do not.
My research did not reveal any other facts. Re-
search did provide many reasonable guesses
based on human yawning. Most of the time yawn-
ing signifies weariness, boredom or as a means
of taking in more oxygen. One theory says horses
hold their breath when tense or under strenuous
training. Yawning allows them to “let down”, relax
and regain oxygen.
Yawning could also indicate a release from other
tensions or pain. Many horses yawn after receiving
chiropractic, myofascial, massage, acupressure or
acupuncture treatments.
Yawning may indicate a change in the “state of
arousal” such as waking from a nap or after a sud-
den fright. Horses may also yawn following some-
thing pleasurable such as grooming and eating.
Most equine yawning does not give owners an
immediate cause for concern or alarm. Repetitive
yawning during interactions with your horse could
possibly be a sign of stress or pain. Excessive
yawning, grinding of teeth or stretching to urinate
may be signs of pain possibly from ulcers.
As always, horse owners need to pay attention to
changes in their horses’ behaviors. Consult your
veterinarian to determine normal and abnormal
behaviors. Yawning causes no harm to humans or
horses.
Beware, yawning can be addictive. If you see your
horse yawn you will want to yawn, too!
Be sure to check out EHAL Magazine’s Spring is-
sue for a new question in “What’s Under Your Hat”?
JANICE PACK
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