Strong Breathing Through the Nostrils
Look at the signal, then look at the whole horse and the situation around it.
NOTICE
Breathing through the nostrils becomes noticeably stronger, faster, noisier, or more effortful than usual.
This signal is about breathing effort, not simply nostril shape.
WHAT IT MAY TELL YOU
Stronger breathing can occur after exercise, during excitement or high arousal, in hot conditions, or when the horse is working harder to breathe.
DON'T ASSUME
Strong breathing does not automatically mean fear, pain, or respiratory disease.
LOOK AGAIN
Consider what the horse has just been doing. Is the breathing settling normally after exercise? Is there coughing, unusual noise, persistent nostril flare, abdominal effort, weakness, or difficulty recovering?
SAFETY
If breathing looks unusually difficult, does not settle as expected, or appears with distress, marked weakness, persistent coughing, abnormal respiratory noise, or obvious effort while the horse is at rest, treat it as a health concern and contact a veterinarian promptly.
Research / Learn More
What research shows
Nostril widening can accompany increased respiratory demand, but visible nostril shape and actual breathing effort are not the same observation. Clinical respiratory assessment considers rate, effort, noise, recovery, and the horse's overall condition.
What it does not tell us
Strong breathing after exercise can be normal. Persistent or labored breathing at rest is a different situation and deserves closer attention.
Sources
- EquiFACS — separates visible nostril dilation from other facial actions, supporting careful observation before interpretation.
- EquiFACS for pain-related facial responses — shows that nostril dilation can occur in pain contexts, reinforcing why surrounding signs matter.