why does my mare....yawn?!

[Firehorse]

everytime i turn my mare back out, once i've taken off her headcollar she will stand there yawning! it doesnt matter if i've ridden, lunged or done groundwork with her, she will always do it. is it a release of tension??

 

[alison247]

My vet told me that horses yawn when they have ulcers.
Our pony had cancer and she told me to contact her if he ground his teeth or yawned!
He did neither before we pts.
So I'm a little baffled by signs of pain.
I did post for signs of pain and not one said yawning!!!
I guess your mare is not in pain? if she has been ridden and worked well?

 

[teddyt]

Could be a release of tension or stretching the facial muscles. Especially if she feels tense or restricted because of the bridle/noseband

 

[Ziggy_]

Mine always yawns when I bridle her, before I do up the noseband. As she wears a grackle I assumed it was her having a good stretch before having her mouth strapped shut for the next few hours

 

[JenHunt]

Ron always yawns when I take his bridle off, and it makes no difference if its the double or the snaffle...

he also yawns whilst I'm making his dinner!

 

[Ezme]

[ QUOTE ]
Mine always yawns when I bridle her, before I do up the noseband. As she wears a grackle I assumed it was her having a good stretch before having her mouth strapped shut for the next few hours

[/ QUOTE ]

A couple of our boys do this but they both are wearing driving bridles with cavason nosebands. Now that I think about it mags doesn't do it when he wears a riding bridle (which he does very rarely, i ride him in a headcoller mostly) which has no noseband at all.

 

[Moggy in Manolos]

My girl yawns at me so to speak, when i tack her up!

I have always thought it was nothing to worry about, i get the impression from the manner in which my horse does it that she is trying to say she is too tired to be ridden, i don't believe her one bit

 

[only_me]

my horse yawns from time to time, usually to stretch his jaw

or he could just be tried - we yawn because we are tired and need more oxygen

 

[martlin]

Or he might be bored of your company

 

[dwi]

I think it can often be a stretching or releasing of tension, Daisy often yawns when i take her bridle off. she does it whether bitted or bitless and she also always itches the same bit of her nose, its just part of her routine. I have to say when she colicked she didn't yawn although some people think it can be a sign of pain I've seen other advice which seems more likely which says you should only be concerned if your horse is yawning out of character or in connection with other symptoms.