Does your horse yawn? Like people, horses sometimes appear to yawn. But it's not entirely clear what's going on when your horse opens wide.
Both people and horses tend to yawn when there's a change in the state of arousal. Waking up is a common time to yawn, but it can happen after a sudden fright or other stimulation...even a pleasurable one.
Some experts think yawning is a symptom of pain or discomfort. But horses also yawn when they are happy and quiet in their stalls, so it doesn't seem to be an absolute indication of pain. But do be aware that some infrequent medical causes of yawning include colic, jaw pain or ulcers. Liver disease causes ammonia to build up in the blood. This can cause a variety neurological symptoms, including yawning.
Horses often yawn after a massage or chiropractic treatment. It seems to be associated with pleasure and the release of tension and stress.
Horses also yawn after holding its breath during physical or mental stress. Large intakes of air re-oxygenate the brain which may have been deprived as oxygen was reassigned to muscles needed to work.
Others have noticed that their horses may yawn near mealtime or after removing the bridle (perhaps to stretch their jaw muscles). Some people think it's just a habit.
Yawning alone shouldn't be a cause for alarm. But if your horse seems to be yawning more than usual or yawning is accompanied by any worrisome symptoms, contact your vet. Be prepared for a horse colic emergency with our free, veterinarian approved Horse Colic Preparedness Report. Learn to identify and prevent common colic triggers, recognize the signs and symptoms of colic, prepare an emergency plan, record vital information to assist your veterinarian and ensure the best possible outcome for your horse.
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