Sudden Yawning In Horses

Shaz · Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 1:38 am Post subject: Sudden Yawning In Horses

I have my seven year old Appaloosa stallion and his half brother a two year old colt in the paddock with two pregnant Appaloosa mares.
In the last two days I've taken there covers off them. Both the boys yawned and yawned and yawned some more. I thought, okay they need salt. Somehere I've read that. I have to purchase more Mineral Salt Blocks this week. Anyway I gave the some hard feed and mixed in some salt and electrolytes. After feeding, they yawned some more. The mares are not doing this. Is there something else I'm missing?
They have plenty of clean water.

Inyureye · Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 4:47 am Post subject:

Hmm. In a chimpanzee troop, this would be a passively aggressive behaviour, designed to tempt a fellow bachelor into causing a disruption. Amongst male horses? Well, yawning is catching, even in other species; there is always the possibility that its a habit they are picking up from each other, much like sucking wind. (They aren't actually sucking wind without nawing on something are they? I have seen horses suck wind out of the air). Anyway, these might be thinking they are picking up a habit of doing something fun from the others.
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Shaz · Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 5:19 am Post subject:

No they aren't sucking. My stallion started doing it when I took his cover off and the colt copied him really. I have noted that after their hard feed with salt in it, this was considerably less. Its noticable, because its only happened twice. Its never happened before. It could be passive-aggressive given its a stallion & colt together, but they're a couple of clowns and play all the time too. Periodically my stallion lays his ears back at the colt, but its fleeting and only temporary intimidation. The colt although will far bigger and taller, still shows submission at this stage.
My stallion has never had much handling in his past and I handle him now and he acts like its Ho-hum! I've seen this when they need salt/minerals, so I won't panic yet.

Inyureye · Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 5:31 am Post subject:

Just out of curiosity, Shaz, what are those holes in your avatar? Sort of look like...like...tent catipillars...or something...
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PegasusFarmsAppaloosas · Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 8:05 am Post subject:

Inyureye · Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 10:02 am Post subject:

Ohh, an appy hiney. Ha Ha.

Thought I'd just mention the word tongue

Cool

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Shaz · Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 3:11 pm Post subject:

Thats an interesting perception of my Avatar....holes eh! Well I sincerely hope not otherwise it could be messy. (Ha Ha) That is a part of my two year old colts hindquarter. Yes I think its boredom as well. When I filed my stallions feet one day, I also had an audience of my TB mare, my colt and then my stallion all neatly lined up at the gate. My colt chewed my brand new polar fleece sweatshirt to bits (that was on the gate) and my stallion yawned and yawned while I did his feet. It only happens when I handle them, so is it a relaxation thing, as they know the routine covers on/covers off, being fed etc. They're a pretty laid back bunch.

Inyureye · Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 6:43 pm Post subject:

Well, yawning in many species is really a stress thing. That's where the "tired" thing comes in, the body is stressed, needs more oxygen. I would guess stress before tired. It would probably also make sense in the situations you mentioned.
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Shaz · Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2005 6:48 pm Post subject:

Stressed in what way? Out of eleven horses its only affecting two. They don't look stressed and I get trailed everywhere. I can only assume, its the older entires that probably have an ego problem.

Inyureye · Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 8:47 am Post subject:

Not stressed as we humans think of being stressed. Often its a social stress. Here's an example. The stress of behaving as taught while the farrier is working on your feet. Probably the event is a breeze for you. Possibly its worrisome to the horse, not a great moment in his day. Sort of like getting called into a meeting at work without much warning.

Here's another example. Mature stallion and young colt. A few other males around. Who's on first, where's second, and is it the same standing around flicking flies as it is just before dinner time. You know, that colt is getting bigger and stronger every day, they are all thinking.

Probably alot of stress going on in the horse world we don't think about until we put ourselves in their heh, heh, shoes.

Cool

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Shaz · Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2005 2:10 pm Post subject:

Yes, I can believe that and I'll take it on board. That colt will be bigger than him by the age of three as he's an Appaloosa Sport Horse. I have intentions this week of moving the colt and having a juggle around because I want my stallion with two new mares and I don't want the colt anywhere near that vicinity, given its spring and he'd like to test the water. He can serve a TB mare of mine instead. My stallion will just be with the girls for the season.
Anyway since giving salt though, as of last night, I had no yawning. Given my stallion yawns, whilst his feet are being done, I can believe it is stress, because he has never had any attention at all from the previous owner and its all new to him. I don't tie him up and I do him in the paddock.
Although this depends on the mares and where they are. They can be so hormonal at times. They are more dangerous at times than a stallion.

RU Sliding · Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2005 4:38 am Post subject:

How's this for a yawn? Some horses make the stragest faces.

PegasusFarmsAppaloosas · Posted: Mon Oct 24, 2005 3:07 pm Post subject:

I thought my gelding was the only one who posed for pictures like that Laughing

Inyureye · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 3:38 am Post subject:

What is that horse doing, he looks like he's folding his ears over on themselves, the goof.

RU Sliding · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 5:03 am Post subject:

I think he he was just shaking himself off. He was always the big goof always playing and in your back pocket. His new owners say he still has a playfull side. He likes to knock wheel barrow over when your cleaning up manure either in the paddock or stall. If your running barrels and make it around with knocking it over he will reach back and grab the edge wth his mouth and pull it over. Same with poles he will go out of his way to knock them down. And he's clepto dont leave anything where he can get or will run off with it.