| We hear it every morning as we walk to the barn. A | | | | humans. Often a horse will blow when he is tired of |
| piercing whinny that announces the arrival of the | | | | waiting for something or when you are leading him off |
| official horse feeder of the day. Horses have a fairly | | | | to exercise when he doesn't really feel like it. The blow |
| small range of vocal sounds, but many of which we | | | | can also be used as a warning. Some horses that are |
| are very familiar with. But, what exactly do they all | | | | curious about something blow, then wait and then |
| mean? | | | | investigate the situation. |
| Whinnying - The whinny is use to announce a horse's | | | | Snorting - This is a harsher version of a blow. Horses |
| presence. The sound is designed to carry over a long | | | | will often snort to show their disapproval in something. |
| distance and is often quite loud, even from the smallest | | | | There may also be a strong hint aggression in a snort |
| horse in the bunch. In the morning, the horse is simply | | | | as well. |
| saying "hello" and "don't forget to feed me!" The sound | | | | Squealing - This sound often sounds worse than it |
| is also used as a complaint of loneliness and | | | | really is. Stallions are known to squeal when they are |
| sometimes a "wait for me!" Horses are also able to | | | | teasing mares or meeting mares. Two stallions will also |
| recognize the whinny of another horse that they know. | | | | squeal at meeting each other. The squeal is often an |
| Wild horses use it to keep in touch with the rest of the | | | | assertion of seniority in the herd or even dominance. |
| herd when they are out of sight. | | | | The head usually stays up and they don't give any true |
| Nickering - The nicker is a deep, nasal sound that is | | | | signs of aggression, although the sound itself sounds |
| made while the mouth is closed. Mares and foals | | | | that way. |
| commonly use this sound to call each other. This is | | | | With all these great guidelines and and more articles |
| generally a greeting to both a horse's owner and his | | | | you will surely be on your way to learning more about |
| stablemates. The sound can be one of kindness as | | | | your equine friends. If you would like to learn more we |
| well, similar to that of a cat's purr. | | | | will lead you to the water we can't make you drink. |
| Blowing - This sound is equivalent to that of a sigh in | | | | |