A Glossary of Equine Vocalizations

While horses rely most on body language to communicate the noises they make are also meaningful. There are four types of equine vocalizations the whinny nicker snort and squeal. Each equine vocal communication has a precise meaning and the sounds mean the same thing each time for every horse.
Equine Vocalization 1 Whinny
What it is The vocalization of a whinny is an equines social call. In the wild the whinny is how horses find one another. Each horse has a distinctive whinny that you and other horses can tell apart.

What it Means This call means Where are my friends? Or Who is willing to be my friend? The horse is lonely and looking for a herd he knows or any horse that is willing to be a herd with him.
How to Respond Hes feeling insecure so dont punish him. Its common for horse handlers to feel embarrassed or frustrated when their horses are whinnying 

constantly. Resist your frustration and calmly ask the horse to work. Heres how
1. In the moment that your horse is whinnying put him to work so he has something to focus on. Keep his mind engaged in a positive way. Dont be harsh or rushed but provide direction.

2. Ask your horse to turn right turn left back up. Provide kind and constant direction until he focuses his attention on you. Once he relaxes allow him to rest. If he whinnies again repeat.
3. If you can get your horse to feel the same sense of comfort he feels with the herd then he wont feel alone anymore. As you build your relationship over time the horse will feel safe and no longer need to whinny when he is with you.
Vocalization 2 Nicker
nicker nikr
a soft low breathy whinny.
What it is The soft purring sound your horse makes implies Come
to me. It can also mean Look at me when a stallion is showing off to a mare.
What it Means Its most purposeful between a mare and foal if the foal wanders off the mare will nicker to the youngster to call him back. Its also the sound you hear each day at feeding time which translates to Come bring me the food.
How to Respond When a horse in a wild herd orders around another horse and takes away food he is the dominant horse. If your horse nickers at you to ask for individual treats he may think hes