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Horse sounds: whinny, nicker, snort and squeal
Horses make four sounds you will hear around any barn. Here is what each one sounds like and when you are most likely to hear it.
The whinny (or neigh)
The longest and loudest horse call: a high start that falls away into a shaky, rolling finish, often a second or more long. You hear it most when a horse is separated from its herd mates, when another horse comes into view, or when a horse is led away from the field. Horses can pick each other out by their whinnies across a long distance.
The nicker
A low, soft, throaty rumble made with the mouth closed. It is a close-range sound. Owners hear it most at feeding time, when they walk up to the stable, and between a mare and her foal.
The snort
A sharp blast of air out through the nostrils, sometimes with a flutter. Horses snort when something new or sudden appears, to clear dust from the nose, and often during work. A long, fluttering out-breath, sometimes called a blow or a sigh, is a related sound you hear when a horse stretches its head down.
The squeal
A short, high, piercing sound. It is most often heard when two horses meet for the first time and sniff noses, and it can come with a stamp, a strike or pinned ears. Mares squeal often, and squeals are common when a new horse joins a group.
Turn the sounds into words
Neigh, the horse translator for iPhone, picks out each of these calls in a video you record and translates it into a line of words on the footage. It also names the call type, so you can see which of the four you caught.
Questions
What is the difference between a whinny and a neigh?
There is none. Whinny and neigh are two names for the same long, loud horse call.
When do horses nicker?
Most often at feeding time, when a familiar person or horse comes close, and between a mare and her foal. It is a soft, low, close-range sound.
Why do horses snort?
Horses snort when something new or sudden appears, to clear their nose, and often during exercise.
Why do horses squeal?
Squeals are most often heard when two horses meet and sniff noses for the first time, and when a new horse joins a group.