Yawning when bridling up.

[k8]

Just a quick question. When I bought my big fella back in March, he came with tack which included an eggbutt snaffle bridle with the old fashioned style drop noseband. Whenever I tacke dhim up, he would yawn several times before I put the bit in and again before tightenng the noseband. I have since bought him a Myler bit and swapped to a flash noseband and recently noticed all yawning has ceased. Can only see this as a good thing, any ideas why he would have yawned then stopped???

[sarah1765]

i dunno, but my horse yawns like yours used to, she's ridden in a eggbutt snaffle and a normal noseband, and id e interested in the answer

[thelwell]

my sec a she yarns then grabs at the bit when you bridle her up i think its just mine showing her objection

[VictoriaA]

there is some suggestion that yawning is a sign of stress, so might indicate horse is much happier in the myler? Someone on here a while back knew more about this so might add their input!

[thelwell]

has any one got a photo of a myler bit so i can see what they look like and will they do one small enouth for a sec a

[hay]

there are meany tipes of myler so it depends on what you need it for. i think they should do it small enouth i have seen 4 1/2 ones about sure they do a 4in as well.
i use mylers in all my horses and i do think they work wonders.
my sisters horse april use to be in just a plane lose ring eggbutt snaffle, but when schooled would not canter on the right rain with out chageing leg and going all silly, but now for about 6 months she has been in a myler and will happly canter on the right rain, weath thats the bit or April and her funny ways i do not know;D

[Yann]

The yawning is supposed to be a displacement behaviour and sign of stress, so perhaps the horse is happier? I'm not 100% sure on this one though as our little pony sometimes yawns whilst being tacked up, but once she's ready to ride droops her head and appears to nod off while her rider is getting ready. That might be some sort of resignation of course but it doesn't really look like it

[Napster]

My boy yawns a lot before and after having his bridle on so I'd be interested in knowing what other people think about this. He's ridden in an eggbutt snaffle but without a noseband. He's very laidback and dozes off after he's got his bridle on so I'm not sure it's down to stress. I have however seen him stress yawn and it did seem a different type of yawning if that makes sense.

[Anna*]

I posted a similar thread on the old DG. The general theories were, as Yann says, that yawning when being tacked up could well be a response to stress. My mare often yawns when she is in stressful situations anyway, so I did have a direct 'link' - just wasn't bright enough to put 2 & 2 together straight away.

Have you had his teeth and back checked recently?

By the way, Cali also yawns when she is very relaxed so you may just have a very chilled neddy! Worth investigating though. Good luck!

[gordo]

Thanks for your responses. Teeth checked and body looked at. He has just been diagnosed with arthritis in leg so much lighter work load whcih would coincide with his stress level dropping. I hated the previous drop noseband and had a flash that fitted and the Myler was pure luck from a car boot sale, never thought a 5.5" would fit a 17.2hh but it does a treat! Im glad to know that it could be stress related and now gone so I must be doing something right!!

[Anna*]

Myler at a carboot!!! My OH drags me around those places all the time and I have NEVER found any useful horsey items.....maybe next time!

[Ryan&Dizzy]

oh no!
my boy also yawns wen being tacked up! hes in a myler bit and normal nose band i always put it dwn to him being lazy!
he is a gem to ride and really not very stressy (more like a donkey mainly!) is there any other explanation or have i completly misunderstood my horse? his teethe and back have bin looked atr etc.

[Anna*]

I think that you should take each horse as individuals and look at the yawning in context to usual behaviours of your horse. I think that on my old thread someone said that some horses yawned to increase the air in their lungs as they prepared for excercise or to stretch their jaw before the noseband was done up. If you have regular back/teeth checks and your horse seems happy, I wouldn't worry - I guess it's just a case of being aware of possible signs of discomfort.

It could even be some kind of 'remembered' pain/stress from previous owners, Otto!

[breezy]

my old boy yawns when he is waiting for me to make up his food if he is in the stable - interesting that this could be displacement behaviour - when I first got him he was dreadful with allowing people near his food (still grumpy so I leave him to it) and although he is better now. He used to be in a trekking centre and so always had to fight for his food - he'd be low in the pecking order.

Hummm.

Bx

[touchstone]

I know that yawning is a sign of stress, but mine comes over to be tacked up when turned out and I appear carrying saddle etc.
She does yawn before being bridled, but is otherwise very relaxed. I have come to the conclusion that perhaps they are anticipating having the bit in their mouths and if there is any tension while being ridden they are just loosening up the jaw ready for work. Just my opinion though.