It's no wonder anyone who's been near a horse has heard it neigh. Since we were little we have been taught that just like the cat goes "meow", the horse neighs It is this sound and no other, that is recorded in our heads, as it is one of the main sounds within the horse's verbal communication, which on many occasions has a positive meaning. But, Why do horses neigh?
In this article on our site we will learn more about horse communication, focusing on the neigh. What does it mean to hear a horse neighing? What does a horse want to communicate to us if he directs his neighing at us? Read on to find out!
How do horses communicate?
Horses are animals that communicate mainly visually, the horse's gestures are defined by the position of the ears, head, legs and the body in generalLikewise, verbal communication is also a priority. This last type of communication can be used by the horse to:
- Contact in the distance with others of their kind.
- Show enthusiasm.
- Avoid contact when interaction with another pack member is not to your liking.
- Keep a mare and her foal together.
- When it's dark, sounds like neighing can keep the party together or alert others to the party's position. This is one of the reasons why horses neigh at night.
Scent communication in horses is used to maintain contact over time, as is markingor establishment of a relationship between a foal and its mother. It is also important during courtship, giving information on the sexual status of each member.
Communication through contact, touches, caresses, scratching, etc. is also very important. These gestures that serve to communicate over short distances favor the bond between individuals. On the other hand, reciprocal grooming, in addition to promoting the above, is a form of support between individuals to reduce stress in certain situations.
Horses are highly sensitive animals to changes in body language, either to their own or to those of the species human, so they react to the most subtle changes in our non-verbal communication.
Horses, as prey animals, are experts at communicating stress. The alert stance they acquire serves to warn the rest of the pack. This sensitivity of horses also involves the human being, if he shows nervousness, as much as he tries to hide it, the horse will notice it.
Why does a horse neigh?
The meaning of horse sounds can be complex and context-dependent, so we cannot rule that the gesture or sound of a horse means something without studying the circumstances. Why do horses neigh? Here are 5 reasons:
Neighing can be used for various reasons.
- Inform the rest of the group of your location, when for some reason you have been separated from the herd.
- When two bonded horses separate from each other and one notices it, it will neigh the other to warn it. The same thing happens if a rider, with a good emotional bond, walks away from his horse.
- Horses also neigh as a "welcome" signal, when they haven't seen another animal they appreciate for a long time.
- The horse neighing can also convey affection.
- When it is frequent and prolonged, the horse is showing its joy. It is usually accompanied by slapping the ground but without threatening intent.
Neighing is an important form of communication between horses, in fact, it is known that feral horses, wild or domestic but living in semi-free conditions, neigh more than those kept in captivity.
How to know the emotions of a horse?
To understand a horse's emotions, we must pay particular attention to its body language, since, as we said, visual communication is priority. Horses use many parts of their body to show emotion:
- With the tail they can show fear, excitement or aggressiveness.
- The legs, their position or movements, can alert or show threats.
- The ears is perhaps one of the parts of the horse's body to which we should pay more attention. They show fear, insecurity, curiosity, alertness, relaxation, etc. In addition, they can move them independently, which can indicate the direction of the horse's attention.
- The most complex part to understand is the face This part of the body can show countless emotionsthanks to its anatomy. For example, drooping eyelids and lips show relaxation. Marked wrinkles around the mouth and nostrils warn that the horse is irritated. When a kind of triangle appears over the mouth, the lips are tight and a dimple appears on the chin, it is associated with tension. When they are grooming with other horses the nose lacks tension and the eyes appear half-closed.
It is important to get to know each horse individually, because each one shows his feelings or needs with different nuances and, furthermore,, what may bother one, does not seem to bother the other. Horses are very complex animals, capable of creating strong bonds with other animals of other species. Understanding your entire communicative repertoire can take years of dedication.
