Yawning

[TS]

My horse seems to yawn an awful lot. Someone told me today it is a sign of stress - is this true? Has anyone heard anything like this before?

[Peace]

I don't know about horses, but yawning is a sign of stress in dogs. I usually see it either when I've asked the dog to do something he doesn't want to do, or when the dog isn't sure what I've asked him to do. The behavior is confined to the stressful moment, though - they don't do it all the time.

[floppy]

i hear alot how yawning is a sign of stress..but the only times i see my dogs yawn is when they just woke up froma sleep and jump off the bed/chair and stretch out and yawn..and horses i often see horses yawn but ina completly relaxed way!! i dont get how it can be stressful when these horses are stadning dozing in the stable and reach out over the door and yawn...i mean i i se ehroses that stress and windsuck when stadnin in a stable but yawning...hehe all this talk about yawning is making me yawn..

[FRED]

Hi floppy, the only thing I know about yawning is when I want to go home from work zzzzz. Been dozing all day,well it is Sunday, {except when the bike racing was on tv :D ,this is very important to watch he he }my dog is yawning waiting to go out for a walk,and yawwning that her dinner plate is epmty.I think Peace is right, better get off and do something, or i will be in the dog house with my dog.All this yawning is making me YAWWWWWWWWWWWWnnnnnnnnnn
seeya
Fred

[fionahogg]

Hi. I think horses will yawn for a variety of reasons. I've seen a lot of horses yawn when they are stressed out, but they also yawn when stood in the field snoozing away. I also read that some horses yawn before you put the bridle on to kinda exercise their facial muscles…?

Fiona.

[intouch]

Did you ever try standing in front of a row of stables (with horses in!) and yawning? You get some very funny faces in reply! Seriously, have you had his teeth checked? Les.

[fionahogg]

Hehe they all just give me very withering glances when I'm not pulling any faces!! Monty's like, "Oh don't be so ridiculous!" like he's a parent scolding a little kid!!

[horselover]

I don't know, but I do know that Rascal yawns after I take his bridle off to stretch his muscles out. He looks so cute when he does it. And sometimes he does it before I put the bridle on too.