Horsey Sounds 101

Abby is quite a vocal little mare. She's now to the point that, when she sees me, she calls out a greeting of some sort. This evening she nickered over and over to me during our visit. What's a nicker? Here's a handy list of sounds that horses make:

Nicker - a low and gutteral sound, often used as a greeting

Neigh - a loud, high pitched cry

Whinny - to neigh

Whicker - a sound softer than a neigh but louder than a nicker

Snort - a brief inhale of air in through the nose

Blow - a loud exhale through the nose, an alarm sound

Squeal - a short, high pitched sound

Tonight Abby's nickers were quiet and low in pitch. Gentle. Done with her ears pricked up while her eyes were fastened on me. In fact, she nickers to me far more now than she neighs or whinnies.

It's a companionable sound and it means she knows me and is happy to see me.

And, I, too, am happy to see her.