WHAT IS MY PONY SAYING?

By Skye Littlefield

VOCALISATIONS AND WHAT THEY MEAN

You’ve probably heard your pony making a wide variety of sounds, especially when they’re happy, excited, or talking to other ponies. Did you know that they use these sounds to communicate with both ponies and people? They can tell humans when they’re happy and tell fellow ponies and horses when they’re cross. Read on to find out which sounds ponies make and what they actually mean.

The neigh

This is the most common sound a pony makes, and you will recognise it as soon as you hear it. It is generally quite loud and has a slightly higher pitch than a nicker. The neigh tends to happen when your pony is happy to see a companion, which could be you or their best pony friend. It’s also used as a communication tool when your pony wants to find a friend or get the attention of another pony. Often you will hear ponies in horseboxes neigh, and their intention is to alert other ponies to where they are and get reassurance that they are safe.

The nicker

The nicker is a low-pitch vocalisation that your pony will make when they’re looking for attention. You’ll hear it a lot when a mare is talking to her foal, especially when the foal wanders a little too far away and she wants to call them back to safety. Stallions also use the nicker to get the attention of mares they fancy, and it is a very expressive vocalisation. If you and your pony have a deep bond, you may be lucky enough to be greeted with a nicker.

The snort

The snort is a short, sharp, deep nasal sound, and while it sounds aggressive, it is thought of as a happy form of communication. Watch the body language of your pony when you hear them snorting, and you’ll notice calm eyes and happy, swishing tails.

If you happen to have a stallion, you may hear them using the snort to alert you or other ponies to dangers, as they are the protectors of the herd.

The squeal

Squealing is a very high-pitched vocalisation and is most commonly used between ponies when they are having a disagreement. You will also notice that when ponies are meeting for the first time, they will almost always squeal. This is a way for them to establish who each of them is within the herd and may be a show of strength to establish hierarchy.

Take home message

Now that you’ve read about why your pony makes the noises they do, pay attention to them in different situations to see how they react. If you’re lucky, your pony will greet you with an excited nicker to show that they really love you.