Youngster, headcollar, yawning...??

B

BigYellowHorse

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 December 2012
Messages
268
Visit site
Just wondering if someone could explain something to me....

I have a lovely 2yo colt, he's absolutely lovely and generally a well behaved guy.

Question I have is behaviour based its not naughty as such but whenever I go to pop his headcollar on he has a massive yawn/s - which is not at all helpful as he is a big guy and its already a stretch to get the old headcollar on and even harder when he has his yaw wide open yawning away! Lol

I remember reading that yawning is a sign of submission and it's not like hes being naughty, but it's not helpful behaviour and I'm not quite sure at the moment how to deal with it.

What would others do? I am starting to get him to learn to lower his head for the headcollar, hes about 16.1 at the moment and will make around 17+hh and being only short myself I need him to occasionally lend a hand - its that or a crane lol

Many thanks!
 
It's more usually considered a sign of some internal conflict than submission. "Yawing" - the foal mouthing behaviour - is sometimes described as submissive, though the jury's out on that one too ;)

So the yawning usually means that the horse anticipates that something about to happen will have both good and bad consequences. It could be that being led is unpleasant, but it means being walked to a stable where there's a feed.

It's quite common in horses when they see a bridle - wearing a bridle vs getting to go out in company, for example.
 
My lad goes through yawning stages....it's always tied in with various teething, so have just put it down to that! No evidence for that, only personal musings though!
 
I wonder about this too! Mine does it often when waiting for food (and the other horses around do it too.. perhaps yawning is contagious in horses too!) but also does it when bridled/tacked up. I often interpret it as her telling me she's tired and can't be bothered, but I guess that is quite a human interpretation! The inner conflict thing is interesting, makes sense when bridled as she is enthusiastic to go out but maybe she'd rather she didn't have to wear tack and haul me around with it :-)
 
Mine yawns if wearing a bridle with a noseband, in between headcollar taken off and bridle put in and vice versa. Possibly because its the only opportunity. If bridle has no noseband horse yawns occasionally for apparently no reason.
 
It can be a sign of some slight stress or concern. One of ours yawns if he thinks we are asking too much of him.. and this can be as trivial as asking the lazy monkey to get out of his stable and go in the field.

Sometimes its too easy to stereotype a behaviour and look for a problem that doesn't exist. Another of ours always pulls a Flehmen when we put on headcollar or bitless bridle, I actually think I would prefer her to yawn!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top