Horse Burping

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trotter259

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I know this isn't possibly, but my gelding makes noises like he is burping?

Could this be a form of windsucking? He doesn't chew fencing, or hold onto fencing and do the sucking thing.

Confused!!
 
My mare definately burps when she has been on new grass in spring. She does it in your face! I didn't think horses could burp but she proved me wrong. Doesn't do it any other time of year.
 
My old horse literally used to burp: the vets weren't sure if it was a type of windsucking or just a bad habit. He would do it anywhere - arch his neck, nod his head with his mouth open, burp. He did it repeatedly, all day every day.

Never caused him any problems and kept him entertained! Wish I could find a video as I have never seen a horse before or since do it. Bizarre.
 
Jess1 said:
My old horse literally used to burp: the vets weren't sure if it was a type of windsucking or just a bad habit. He would do it anywhere - arch his neck, nod his head with his mouth open, burp. He did it repeatedly, all day every day.

Never caused him any problems and kept him entertained! Wish I could find a video as I have never seen a horse before or since do it. Bizarre.
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my ex racer used to do this (still does in new home) its windsucking I have always been lead to believe...
 
Jess1 said:
My old horse literally used to burp: the vets weren't sure if it was a type of windsucking or just a bad habit. He would do it anywhere - arch his neck, nod his head with his mouth open, burp. He did it repeatedly, all day every day.

Never caused him any problems and kept him entertained! Wish I could find a video as I have never seen a horse before or since do it. Bizarre.
Click to expand...

My little mini used to do exactly this. Never worked out why but I always thought it was a digestion thing - her previous owner used to just feed her on straw or piles of artichokes/melons/whatever vegetable he could get for next to nothing, rather than proper forage :confused::rolleyes: I started feeding fennel supplements and plenty of forage and it did improve, to the stage where she only did it if she got stressed.
 
This sounds like a very developed form of wind sucking. Wind sucking generally starts as cribbing, then progresses to gulping in air whilst cribbing and finally just gulping air without holding on to anything.

It could also be a sign of indigestion. Have you considered trying him on a Digestion supplement to see if this helps him?
 
No, horses are most definitely not supposed to be able to burp, however.......my youngster most definitely does, it normally accompanies spasmodic colic when he has eaten too much. My vet heard him burp numerous times, with a stethascope and confirmed that they were most definitely true burps. He spoke with specialist regarding it, they were concerned he had a genetic abnormality so he was scoped. The specialist found nothing untoward apart from some healing ulcers. They were and still are totally baffled as to how and why my horse burps. I do however believe that the burping somehow reduces the pain of the colic, as if he isn't burping so bad he shows more signs of discomfort. Restricted grazing keeps my lad burp free, turn him out on a field with more than an inch of grass on it and off we go again, regardless of the quality of the grass or time of year. It is a quantity issue.

So yes, they can burp but no, they are not supposed too ;)

Vet did say some horses sound like they are burping when they have wind trapped in their gullet after eating hard feed or windsucking, however these are not true burps, they don't come from the stomach.
 
Little confused, surely windsucking is sucking air in & burping is forcing air out?? How can it be the same thing? I understand windsucking could cause burping though.
 
Horses are not supposed to be able to hiccup either, but mine gets hiccups every time I tighten his girth, because he's blowing out so hard. Occasionally gets them when he's getting really cross and impatient with me too.
 
I don't think a horse can burp in the same way we do. Although it is probably linked, as both windsucking and excess burping are linked to acid build up. When i was little i used to think my favourite riding school horse was burping, but it was windsucking. Also, i have always known windsucking as this, without having the teeth on anything. Having the teeth on the stable door etc whilst doing it is cribbing in my books.
 
3 of my youngsters have done this. Its stressy but not windsucking and they have all grown out of it! Must admit, I was worried at the time though!
 
My youngster does this...he wolfs down his dinner really quick and then makes a few burping noises, during and sometimes after. It's rather odd. But he doesn't do it at any other point, only when eating hard feed.
 
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