Do Horses Yawn?

Everyone knows that yawns are contagious, and you can’t help but yawn when someone around you does it.

Yawning is not exclusive to humans, however.

Many animals yawn and I am sure you have seen a dog or cat let out a yawn.

But what about horses?

Do horses yawn?

Well, I was curious about this and decided to look into it further and am excited to share it with you today.

So, without wasting any more time, let’s answer the question “do horses yawn?”

The answer to this question is yes, horses do yawn. Many animals yawn and horses are no exception. The reasons as to why they yawn is a lot more difficult to come by as it is not exactly clear as to why they yawn. Horses can yawn for many reasons including being tired, while stretching or walking after resting, due to stress, or if they are experiencing pain, etc.

Yawning is perfectly normal for horses but can indicate that a bigger issue is occurring so you should take the fact that your horse is yawning seriously.

But why exactly do horses yawn, is yawning bad for horses, and what does it mean if your horse doesn’t yawn?

We are going to explore all of these questions and more in this article as we dive deeper into the topic of horses yawning.

Let’s get into it!

Do horses yawn?

The answer to this question is yes, horses do yawn.

Many animals yawn and horses are no exception.

Yawning is a regular part of a horse’s life, and they can tell you a lot about both the physical and mental condition of your horse.

Male horses tend to yawn more than female horses (mares) and there are many different reasons as to why horses yawn.

Why do horses yawn?

As mentioned above, horses regularly yawn but there are many different reasons for this occurring.

The reasons as to why horses yawn have been contested for a while due to the complex and diverse nature of why horses yawn but there are a few reasons that most people would agree with.

This section will look at some of the instances in which horses yawn.

Because they are tired

Just as with humans, horses can yawn when they are tired or if they have just woken up from an extended rest.

It is common to see a horse yawning while stretching or walking after having just woken up from a long rest.

Because they are uncomfortable or in pain

When horses are in pain or experiencing some level of discomfort they tend to yawn.

Some ailments that can cause your horse to yawn include liver distress and gastrointestinal discomfort due to ulcers and colic.

There are other signs that may indicate that your horse has some issue it is going through such as sweating, muscle tremors, shaking, or being unresponsive.

If your horse is yawning a lot, you should look out for these other signs of illnesses so you can determine whether or not your horse is having a serious issue or if the yawning is due to a different factor.

The quicker you are able to identify a problem with your horse the quicker your will be able to treat and deal with it.

Yawning by itself is not a definitive sign that something is wrong with your horse, but horses normally do it when they are experiencing some form of discomfort and can be an excellent indicator that something is wrong with your horse especially if any of the other signs are present.

Because they are stressed

In addition to yawning when they are experiencing some form of pain or discomfort, horses can also yawn when they are feeling stressed.

Horses can feel stressed when there are changes in their environment, diet, or routine.

They can also feel stressed when socializing with other horses or meeting new horses for the first time.

Yawning can occur as a result of both aggressive social behavior and more regular social interactions – this is different for each horse so you should monitor your horses to ensure that they are in the best situation possible for them.

Horses can also become stressed due to being stuck in their stable for extended periods of time or due to not getting enough time outdoors.

If you notice your horse yawning a lot while in its stable this may be a sign that you need to update/ improve its living conditions or give it more time outside grazing and playing.

One solution could be to improve the stable so that it has more sightlines and is designed in a way that promotes social interaction between horses.

This will help reduce the stress that your horse is experiencing and will help to reduce the amount it is yawning.

Is yawning bad for your horse?

The answer to this question is no, yawning is not bad for your horse.

As mentioned before, yawning is a by-product of something else occurring such as stress, fatigue, or an illness.

Yawning in itself is not harmful to your horse as it is simply an involuntary reflex in which your horse opens its mouth wide and takes in a large amount of air.

Yawns are useful, however, as they can be excellent indicators of both the physical and mental state of your horse and should, therefore, be taken seriously and monitored closely.

If your horse is yawning frequently this may be a sign that something more serious is occurring and you should observe your horse to see if it exhibits any other signs.

What does it mean if your horse doesn’t yawn?

Just as you shouldn’t be overly worried if you notice your horse yawning, the same can be said if you don’t see your horse yawning.

While yawning is a natural behavior for horses to exhibit it is only done due to specific reasons.

If your horse isn’t experiencing any of those reasons, then it doesn’t have any reason to yawn.

It could just be that your horse is yawning but you simply aren’t seeing them doing it.

In conclusion, yes, horses do yawn.

Yawning is perfectly normal behavior for horses, and it can be a good indicator of various physical and mental issues.

Horses yawn for many reasons including stress, tiredness, and gastrointestinal issues.

Yawning isn’t bad for horses, but you should monitor and observe your horse carefully to ensure that there aren’t any signs of other illnesses present as yawning can be an indication of more serious problems occurring.