Horses Make 8 Sounds To Convey Information, Moods

Horse Tales

“What television program do most horses watch?

Neigh...bors”

Anonymous

This idea for this article was based on a query from several Islanders, who were out for a carriage ride and asked the question, “Why do horses neigh?”

The answer is both simple and complex, for horses are capable of making more than one kind of neigh, and one kind of sound. So, Dave, this one is for you.

A neigh is often called a whinny. It starts out as a squeal and ends in a nicker. It usually means “Hey, here I am, where are you?” and can be thought of as similar to a canine yowl or howl when one animal has been separated from its group. It is a request for information, not alarm, unless the pitch becomes shrill.

Although a horse’s vocal repertoire is far from musical, it does have a simple audible language that is exchanged with humans, other animals, and other horses. Desond Morris, a British author and former curator of mammals at the London Zoo, has written a wonderful book, “Illustrated Horse Watching,” and he has some practical information about the sounds a horse makes. Having a few quadrupeds around my home makes it easy to apply his theories and do some horse watching and listening of my own.

Many experts, including Morris, feel that horses make eight basic sounds in which they can convey information and moods. The first is a snort, which is a powerful exhalation of air through the nose. The horse’s head is usually held high and so is the tail. The “flight” mechanism of the horse is predominant and it means he has spotted something worrying to him in the distance. It is also a challenge that a male horse will send to another over turf area or herds, and even geldings will do this.

The second audible sound is a squeal. In encounters that are aggressive, it may mean, “Don’t push me any further.” The squeal is used by mares in courtship and it may also mean, “Stop it, “I like it.” Squealing sounds vary in intensity. The loudest are between mares and stallions.

The most common horse sound I hear daily is when I go to the barn in the morning to feed, and that is the greeting nicker. Sometimes that sound makes the hard part of horse keeping and its drudgery wonderful. It also beats the morning shouts from two moody teenagers. The nicker is a low-pitched guttural sound, used in close quarters. It can mean, “Hi,” “Come here,” “Good to see you,” “I like what I am doing.” The fourth sound is a courtship nicker that is very, very low and used by stallions only.

Following courtship comes birth, and the maternal nicker is one used only by mares for their foals. Often they will call to their young when they’re mildly worried about safety, and it’s an imprinted sound transferred from mother to offspring.

Neighing is the longest and loudest of horse sounds. A neigh can last about 1.5 seconds and can be heard three-fourths of a mile away. It’s a call that wants a response, and it’s usually one member of a group making a call to another. Mares often neigh more than geldings. Again, it’s often an affirmation of location, a call to the gang.

When a horse is angry or confused; in a fear or a rage or all these at once, a horse is said to roar or trumpet. We have an old Thoroughbred gelding who couldn’t stand to be separated from his mates if he was out alone. He would be impossible to ride and would roar, causing both rider and horse snowballing agitation. Only when we realized that he was blind, did we understand the reason for his panic of separation and his sound. Wild horses or fighting horses will also roar; it’s a very unsettling call. Horses will also roar in pain.

The eighth major noise a horse makes is the short snort or little blow. It’s a simple exhilaration of air through the nose with very little tension. Snorts are usually okay. The little blow may mean well being, or “what’s this?” But remember, each sound can be heard in a variety of situations.

Horses also grunt and groan. We have one who seems to sing us a song that actually sounds like a groan, always on the way home. He’s happy and content, but he actually keeps up a low groaning tune when he rounds the last bend on the trail back to the barn.

While you’re on the Island, stop and listen to see how many sounds your own horse makes, or the ones you may come in contact with. It is quite interesting.

Candice Dunnigan is an active member of the American Equestrian Association, the Waterloo Hunt, and the Mackinac Island Horsemen’s Association. Seasonally she resides at Donnybrook and Easterly Cottage.