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Discussion on Yawning
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Member:
Megster
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Posted on Thursday, Apr 22, 2004 - 5:30 am:
My mare was recently put on Regumate to stop her seasons as she was having a siezure prior to each time she came into season. Her temperament was always sweet inbetween seasons and grouchy as most mares are when in season. Now, she's the sweetest thing out, all of the time which is great. However, a strange thing has happened that I'm not really sure how to explain. It started when we went on a Parelli Natural Horsemanship workshop a couple of weeks ago where we learnt how to play the 7 games. All of the work was done from the ground and we were there with three of her field mates and a few strange horses. She tried so hard all day (albeit got a bit confused at times) to do what I asked of her but from the minute she realised she was there to work, she yawned her head off all day - like every couple of minutes. The audience were amused to say the least. This has continued, not quite as extreme as that day, but she does yawn now more than she did before, either when she is waiting to be ridden, in the middle of a lesson when she is standing still, or when she's chilling in her stable. I can't explain this change. I'm thinking that she's perhaps just more relaxed now her hormones are under control but am under the impression that yawning can also be a sign of submission or can mean all sorts of other things (she also does this when nosing with the geldings over the fence). My new instructor schooled her the other day which is the first time she's been ridden in the arena since she went on Regumate (she can be a bit of a fool in the arena - spooky with no attention span) and she was so chilled out it was unbelievable and my instructor actually described her as fundamentally quite lazy. Perhaps this is change is the equivalent to the difference in a stallion v's a gelding. I'd welcome any thoughts on this.
Sarah
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, Apr 23, 2004 - 7:35 am:
Let me add another possibility, a frequent pre-seizure behavior is yawning. I wonder if the behavior is some complicated interplay between the altrenogest and her propensity for seizures?
DrO
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Member:
Christos
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Posted on Friday, Apr 23, 2004 - 3:02 pm:
I believe that yawning after a lesson is the best indication that the horse has worked well, is relaxed, feels safe, it understood and is processing the information gained.
I've read somewhere that yawning is a gem you occasionally find in the arena's sand.
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Member:
Bonita
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Posted on Friday, Apr 23, 2004 - 7:20 pm:
I am NOT trying to make light of this situation - but recently contributed to another board's question of the same thing as follows concerning yawning:
1) To lull you into a false sense of security?
2) Because he knows what's coming & is already bored to tears just thinking about it?
3)Hoping you'll mistake the yawn as an impending case of narcolepsy & put him back in his stall?
4) Knows that yawns are "contagious", & hopes that you'll start yawning & decide you're too tired to ride?
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