Why do horses sigh.......

[Supertrooper]

Have you noticed that when you're horse has been wound up about something they'll often do a big sigh before they calm down/realise it's not scary. Why do they do this?

Thought it may be something for us to try as a calming signal?!?!

 

[Sugarplum Furry]

As I understand it's definitely a calming signal, I know if I stand next to one of my horses and sigh he'll do it back to me. Yawning has the same effect!

 

[MrVelvet]

Ooh I have never really noticed. Mr V just snorts and prances past things! He sometimes sighs in his stable and snots everywhere though...

 

[highlandponygirl]

I reckon it's just their interpretation of when we go Phewwww, you know when you realise that the shadow behind the curtain is a tree and not a monster. They are probably thinking oh ****e look at that big scary fecker and they get a bit closer and phewww bloody hell it's just a bit fluff

 

[stencilface]

I think its a calming thing too, likewise when your horse wants to wind himself up and get pumped with adrenalin, they create a monster and start snorting like the fire breathing horses of greek mythology.

Interestingly, when I had the osteo out, he was looking for my horse to lick, chew and yawn to show that the nervous system was connecting messages to the brain when he was manipulating him. Don't know if thats tosh or not though!

 

[Shilasdair]

My old horse used to sigh to indicate owner stupidity was occurring.
S

 

[stencilface]

My old horse used to sigh to indicate owner stupidity was occurring.
S

Mine never sighs for that reason

 

[Shilasdair]

Mine never sighs for that reason

In your case, he's probably indicating it with normal breaths.
S

 

[stencilface]

In your case, she's probably indicating it with normal breaths.
S

He might act like a tart sometimes, but he's definitely a boy

 

[Shilasdair]

He might act like a tart sometimes, but he's definitely a boy

It was probably you standing beside him that made him look feminine.
Fixed now.
S

 

[Mrs B]

My old horse used to sigh to indicate owner stupidity was occurring.
S

Probably similar to why M often yawns when I produce his bridle.

 

[Quantock-cob]

I was always taught that licking and chewing is a sign of relaxation in horses. At the start of a lesson my horse is often a bit tense (probably picking up on my fear !!) but as he settles to his work and will relax and accept the bit there is often some licking and chewing. And also, re the original question from the OP sighing is also relaxation. If your horse is worried and tense try some deep breathing and deep sighing and you often find the horse will relax. They are so sensitive to our moods and breathing patterns. When I am hacking and see a scary monster is coming up (usually an old lady on a mobility scooter - he hates them!) I do lots of deep breaths - calms me down but also will calm him.

 

[Boxers]

Interestingly, when I had the osteo out, he was looking for my horse to lick, chew and yawn to show that the nervous system was connecting messages to the brain when he was manipulating him. Don't know if thats tosh or not though!

Manni does this as he is submissive. he lives at the bottom of the herd in the field - bless him!

 

[JingleTingle]

My old horse used to sigh to indicate owner stupidity was occurring.
S

Oh dear, my suspicions are right then...this is why my mare sighs at me...frequently.

 

[KSR]

From what I remember from uni, the deeper the breath the slower the heart beat.. All to do with chemo and barotrceptors in the arterial walls and heart..

So perhaps the sigh causes the pulse and blood pressure to help drop..

 

[KSR]

*baroreceptors

 

[Fairynuff]

Have you noticed that when you're horse has been wound up about something they'll often do a big sigh before they calm down/realise it's not scary. Why do they do this?

Thought it may be something for us to try as a calming signal?!?!

Cos they've read some of the utter nonsense written on HHo!

 

[paddi22]

my lad is a rescue ex racer who gets really tense being ridden. It takes ages in walk to get him to relax and once he does he gives a big sigh. If he tenses up again being ridden then i make the sighing noise back to him, and then he does it back to me and then he relaxes a bit. this can go on for ages and it looks really weird us sighing at eachother but it works!

 

[Boxers]

my lad is a rescue ex racer who gets really tense being ridden. It takes ages in walk to get him to relax and once he does he gives a big sigh. If he tenses up again being ridden then i make the sighing noise back to him, and then he does it back to be and then he relaxes a bit. this can go on for ages and it looks really weird us sighing at eachother but it works!

Pressing the 'like' button.

This made me laugh when I imagined what you would look like doing this with your horse!

 

[paddi22]

it works though!!! he really relaxes!

and it makes me laugh all the time, it's like we are having a proper conversation!

 

[jaquelin]

I always thought mine sighed for exactly the same reasons humans do. He would always sigh when he knew we were going in the school for a session. My current ride sighs when he is about to be mounted - as, in "Ho, hum, here we go...so bored!"

 

[Devonshire dumpling]

I think its a calming thing too, likewise when your horse wants to wind himself up and get pumped with adrenalin, they create a monster and start snorting like the fire breathing horses of greek mythology.

Interestingly, when I had the osteo out, he was looking for my horse to lick, chew and yawn to show that the nervous system was connecting messages to the brain when he was manipulating him. Don't know if thats tosh or not though!

Don't know about horses, but I am a small animal Vet nurse and when a dog is uncomfortable, for example if you were touching a sore area of back, they lick their lips!! Same if anxious x

 

[Renvers]

my lad is a rescue ex racer who gets really tense being ridden. It takes ages in walk to get him to relax and once he does he gives a big sigh. If he tenses up again being ridden then i make the sighing noise back to him, and then he does it back to me and then he relaxes a bit. this can go on for ages and it looks really weird us sighing at eachother but it works!

Me too

 

[EstherYoung]

My old horse used to sigh to indicate owner stupidity was occurring.
S

Definitely. H has a wide range of sighs, and most of them can be interpreted as 'Oh FFS' to one degree or another.

 

[FoxTrotx]

My mare does the biggest sigh/groan every evening when she gets into her stable, along with a giant pee. I do slightly wonder to myself if shes been holding it all day then when she finally gets inside its like a massive relief, lol.