[Blkarab]

I would equate it with teeth grinding. I don't believe that there is any deduction for that either. Both can be a sign of tension or concentration, depending on the horse.

No deduction for sheath noises either!

Lol!

[galloping-gourmet]

My guy grunts when I tap him on the shoulder with the whip - not in dressage, but any time I want a bit more speed! It is really funny.

[Eclectic Horseman]

Makes me wonder about farting? Is it a deductible offense if it is rhythmic?

What say you all?

[LadyNeon01]

Makes me wonder about farting? Is it a deductible offense if it is rhythmic?

Hahahaha! I'm glad I don't have anyone near my office to hear me cracking up over this. You made me think about this happening during a ride a couple months ago. At one point, I actually asked my horse if he was done with the musical accompaniment.

[ThreeFigs]

OK, so is gelding sheath noise a bad thing, or does it indicate the horse is using his "circle of muscles" correctly?

[Gloria]

The sheath noise thing is just something they declare that they are "still" boys.

[ThreeFigs]

Like making that farting sound with your hand in your armpit? In grade school, all the buys did that on the bus.

[Iberiansyes]

Thanks everyone. This mare does not seem to be stressed. In fact, she is a bit on the lazy side, and her grunting does seem rhythmic. While she does it, she has floppy ears. She is a big girl, almost 17 hh. It is funny because she was entering upper level dressage but we liked her, she is kind, and we are considering buying her for my daughter for a bronze medal horse. Her grunting is kind of like, "oh, lower levels.... well OK...."

[ThreeFigs]

Aah! Floppy ears are a GOOD thing! She sounds like a peach!

[Gloria]

This mare sounds lovely. Picture?

[alibi_18]

My mare does is more when she's out of shape, and at the canter. Like she felt I needed to know how much she's working!

And when she's fit, it is way less. Only when she works really hard or she's either really happy or mad. And it is not rythmical to her gait. She's like : "hum hum hummm hum hum" type of grunt with the tail swinging nicely or flying around pissed! I kinda like it actually!

[suzier444]

Like she felt I needed to know how much she's working!

Yeah, that's when I've heard my mare grunt. It's part of her (rather expansive and endearing) "I have opinions about this" repertoire.