Why Does My Horse Yawn During Bridling?

What happens before bridling might hold a clue as to why this horse yawns when facing his bridle.
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Why Does My Horse Yawn During Bridling?
Horses often yawn when they are drowsy, hungry, or stressed. | Photo: iStock
Q: Right before I put my horse’s bridle on, he always starts yawning. He just had his annual dental exam last month, so his teeth are fine. What could be causing this? Is he in pain, or is he just being a pain? What can I do to resolve the behavior? —via email

A: Horses often yawn when they are drowsy, hungry, or stressed. Pain is one source of stress, but anything that increases arousal—including physical discomfort, fear, excitement, or mental challenge—can induce yawning. Physiologically, yawning is a response linked to increased cortisol levels, elevated body temperature (called the “brain cooling” theory of yawning), or gastrointestinal discomfort.

Yawning is an involuntary reflex, so it’s unlikely that your horse is yawning on purpose. To avoid being bridled—which might also mean to avoid being ridden—a horse will typically learn to move its head out of reach or press its mouth closed.

Physical discomfort or emotional stress are the most likely reasons that your horse is yawning. It might be in anticipation being bridled or ridden; however, what happens before he yawns—such as being groomed, saddled, or girthed—is probably a more important clue. This is because animals tend to yawn after the stressor is taken away (for example, many horses yawn at the end of a strenuous work or when the bit is removed). You can test this by changing the order of your routine and bridling first, to see if and when your horse still yawns

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Written by:

Robin Foster, PhD, CAAB, IAABC-Certified Horse Behavior Consultant, is a research professor at the University of Puget Sound in Seattle, Washington, and an affiliate professor at the University of Washington. She holds a doctorate in animal behavior and has taught courses in animal learning and behavior for more than 20 years. Her research looks at temperament, stress, and burn-out as they relate to the selection, retention, and welfare of therapy horses. She also provides private behavior consultations and training services in the Seattle area.

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