The whinny of the horse
The whinny is the sound emitted by a horse: it is the name of the call of a horse. To warn other horses of its presence, the whine can also reflect the different emotions of the animal. What is that ? Why do horses neigh?
The neighing mechanism?
To neigh, the horse must fill its lungs with air and expel it through the throat. It is through this organ, the contact with the vocal cords, that the whistle is produced. It is the way the air is expelled from the lungs that determines the loudness of the moan.
Good to know: When a horse reaches puberty (on average around 2 1/2 years old), it becomes noisier.
When a horse whinnies, it makes a series of jerky sounds, usually a high pitch followed by a low pitch. Humans can feel a more or less intense neighing at distances greater than 1 km, and even more so in horses with better hearing than us.
Why does the horse neigh?
Horses communicate in different ways. Indeed, thanks to his particular gestures, he benefits from a very rich non-verbal communication, but he also communicates by whistling.
In the natural state, horses neigh very little. It's true! No predator that could hunt it could spot it. Although he uses body language more (attitude, facial expressions, etc.), the horse will whistle in very specific situations, especially when he can no longer see the other horses that make up his herd. Then, the whistle allows the horses to locate themselves.
Neighing is also widely used by foals, which are able to vocalize from birth. As he left his mother, the whistle allowed him to call her. A mare also uses purring to locate her foal or call her to order during play. Both can perfectly recognize each other's tone of voice.
Understand the whinny of your horse?
In horses, hissing can reflect a variety of emotions, such as contentment or concern. It is the frequency of the returning sound that can give other horses an idea of what emotions the animal wants to communicate with other horses.
The whinny of call
When a horse tries to approach other equids, it emits a long, loud whistle. It was a deafening noise for the riders near him. Calling whining is usually accompanied by a very specific gesture. Indeed, he pricks up his ears and holds his head high, which allows him to increase the power of his moan.
This is usually the sound a horse makes when its grazing partner comes out of the pasture for some reason. In this case, purring may be a sign that the horse is stressed.
It may be necessary to restore the education of his horse to teach him to separate from his family without fear.
The whinny of alert
If the horse senses danger, it emits a series of quiet, short, powerful moans.
By emitting this sound, the horse signals to its congeners that it is necessary to unite to face the possible dangers which are preparing.
The whinny of satisfaction
Horse happy to see the rider arrive? Soon cereals? Hay distributed? It expressed its satisfaction with a pleasant, low, soft whistle.
A contented whistle is also used when a mare tries to soothe her foal.
Other sounds made by horses
Even though a horse rarely uses voice communication, hissing isn't the only sound that comes out of its mouth.
In fact, when two horses meet, one of the horses usually makes a short, high-pitched squeak. It is a sign of aggression or defense. Sound is also used by mares in heat to repel males who approach too close to them.
Horses can also:
- Snoring: This is a deep, dull sound that indicates the horse's apprehension when faced with new situations or unfamiliar objects. A stallion's snoring is also a sign of excitement.
- Blow: If it blows suddenly, the horse has sensed danger. He will then send an alarm signal to warn his fellows.
- Snoring: Used to relax the nostrils, snoring is usually a sign of relaxation after physical work when the rider puts the reins back on the horse.
You now have all the weapons to decipher the horse's whistle! so what does he want to tell you