Horse yawning and stretching neck out. Why?

TrasaM

TrasaM

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My share horse is currently being rested because of back and stifle problems. Today owner and I decided it was time to groom him and smarten him up a bit. He was being very fidgety and uncooperative so I started doing a bit of massage on him. He wasnt taking too much notice but when I got to his neck- withers area he started to stretch out his neck and yawn really wide. A bit of farting going on too :D oh, and his willy dropped out fully :D
I've looked up horses yawning and I'm getting two opposite views. A) pain or trying to relieve pain and b) letting go of tension.
From what we observed today it definitely seemed a case of (b) him relaxing.
So any guidance from anyone who knows about backs and massage would be greatly appreciated. I'm quite good with human backs but horses are a new territory for me..and very very hard work. He's been seen by the chiro a few times now but I've not seen this reaction from him before.
 
I would say along with the other indications you described that he was relaxing, letting go. If it were pain related his ears might go back, his tail might swish, his feet might fidget. It sounds as if he was really enjoying the experience - just watch for the contra indications that I've mentioned.
 
Thank u :) definitely think I hit the spot it's just not knowing which spot I hit :confused: can I safely assume that I won't do any harm as long as I'm getting a positive reaction?
Jennyf. Noticed you do reiki... I'm really interested in this and I've seen how it can work on people. He's a complicated little soul and not always the best behaved but I've always felt that there was else something bothering him and not just a simple? case of locking stifles.
 
My horse does this as part of several symptoms when in low grade colic, her ears arent back but she stretches her neck forward and to the side while yawning, if left, she then goes on to curl her lip in the flehmen fashion and then starts flank watching, that said my other horses yawn fairly regularly while letting go and relaxing, but if its new i'd keep an eye on the horse.
 
TrasaM said:
Thank u :) definitely think I hit the spot it's just not knowing which spot I hit :confused: can I safely assume that I won't do any harm as long as I'm getting a positive reaction?
Jennyf. Noticed you do reiki... I'm really interested in this and I've seen how it can work on people. He's a complicated little soul and not always the best behaved but I've always felt that there was else something bothering him and not just a simple? case of locking stifles.
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Yes, I sometimes combine the Reiki with some of the simple TTOUCH movements when working on my own horses to double the effect/s. A fairly simple thing to do is to gently work your hands all over his body, watching very carefully for reactions - this might give you some clues to the 'right' spots.
 
Thanks Jenny.. I will have another go today and get my friend to stand back and watch his reactions. He was such a fidget yesterday that it was hard to get a clear idea of which areas he was responding to. :)
 
Yawning, licking, chewing, stretching and sighing are all signs that a horse is relaxing and processing something. We get taught to look for them in Bowen therapy too. Also you will notice people who train horses and/or do natural horsemanship also lookout for the lick and chew as a positive sign.

It sounds to me like your horse. Was having a release. Whatever you were doing, keep it up. You won't hurt him :)
 
My brood mare does this stretching her head high just before dropping her foals. Cunning old witch gives very few signs that birth is imminent. But this is one.
 
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