Behaviourist question ... why does my pony ....

Boxers

Boxers

Well-Known Member
Joined
12 April 2003
Messages
4,771
Location
Lincolnshire
Visit site
Why does my pony yawn alot in his stable. Noticed over the last week or so that he seems to be yawning alot. Does it mean anything? Is he just bored? or tired?
confused.gif
 
Do you notice it more when you go to feed him? I only ask because my two always start yawning like crazy when we go to bring them in and they start again the moment the headcollars are off in the stable until their dinner buckets arrive. Once they've eaten they stop
crazy.gif
 
fly,beths horse yawns a lot when she comes in
.have found her asleep in the field last few days.
maybe its the weather or time of year.
im tired too.
 
Mine does it too, he does it when I start mucking out his stable with him in there. Then when I go out again he puts his head back over the stable door and stops it again...how strange, I thought it was just him. My mare doesn't do it, she just makes faces at me until I bring her some food
grin.gif
 
Well I think those scenarios fit - he does it when I arrive in the morning when he knows he's about to be fed, and he does it while I'm faffing around on the yard, mucking out etc.

I know the parelli people like to see their horses 'mouth' when they are working with them to show that they are listening etc.
 
I have just checked afew websites, apparently Monty says its a demonstrative act which shows they feel relaxed and reassured. So thats nice, its a sign they are happy with us......rather than bored of our company, thats a relief!
 
Without knowing the full situation, he could be yawning just to stretch those muscles, in order to get more oxygen or because he is getting less sleep at the moment.

Is he otherwise showing signs of being tired/lethargic?

Some horses can hold tension in their mouths, just like people - perhaps he is releasing it a lot at the moment for whatever reason?

ETA 3 more points I've just thought of.

1. just to confirm as someone else said, yawning, licking and chewing can mean something's been learnt mentally.

2. A friend of mine's cat yawns a lot and does a funny mouth movement, so she's booked her in to the vet to see if something is wrong with her teeth.

3. Horses can learn things when we don't expect them to. Frankie wees when he hears me preparing his dinner, presumably because he once (wrongly) paired a wee with getting dinner. Several horses I know do the flehman response just for fun or treats because people laugh when they see it. Could it be he has taught himself yawning means food, turning out, or something else pleasant?
 
It can be sign of relaxing and letting go so to speak. When working with feral ponies they yawn when they start to relax and feel more comfortable in our company

Or he could just be tired LOL!
 
I would treat this with some concern and definitely keep an eye on it as it BUT it depends on how much he is doing it. If it is a lot then it could be a) stereotypical behaviour - 'a vice' like weaving, excessive licking, etc. Stereotypical behaviour like crib biting, etc, has been linked to stress where a horse carries out a certain behaviour [such as weaving] as a distraction from the stress.
Or, it could be a physical problem and has even been linked to ragwort poisoning. However, please don't get worried that your horse has got RW poisoning - it's just something to keep an eye on and call the vet in if it's constant - lots of horses yawn because they're simply tired!
 
Excessive yawning can be a sign of liver disease. If he has just started doing it I would get him blood tested. If he has always done it I wouldn't worry.
 
Oh help - now I'm going to worry - I just posted this cos I thought it was a bit quirky.

Will definately keep an eye on him and see how much he is doing this and when.

Thanks,
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top