Horses that snort at every stride

[... Taff]

Something I am reading at the moment mentions 'dragon breathing'. Apparently this is when a horse snorts at every stride. I have seen (and heard) horses do this: racehorses, dressage horses...

My question is, is this good, bad, or indifferent?

And, why does a horse do it?

How does it compare to the lovely snort of relaxation when a horse is using himself well?

[Jcr]

Hi taff I certainly don't think it's a bad thing, but then again I've not thought about it! I used to ride a horse who snorted at every stride, but not always.
He used to do it at the canter, I felt he was happy and just keeping rhythm.

When I've seen horses snort in rhythm, they seem to be relaxed. Occasionally you do see a tense horse snorting, but to me this seems to be a different type of snort

[... Taff]

Yes, I'm not talking about tense snorting at all.

But I am sure I've heard that this 'dragon breathing' is not the best. I really don't know, hence the question.

My half-mad, long dead instructor told us long ago that snorting was a good sign, but he wasn't referring to the snort, snort, snort at every (canter) stride. He was referring to the relaxed, steady, 'comfort' snort of a horse settling into work. (either on the lunge or when ridden).

HOWEVER, another instructor, many years later, told me that yes, this snort was a good sign but nothing to write home about. I might have attached too much importance to it.

But this 'dragon breathing'... surely many people have heard and seen this? What are their thoughts, I wonder. Does it mean the horse would like to go faster? Why do racehorses do it when they are cruising along at a canter? Why would a 'dressage horse' do it? Would/could it be good or bad?

It's in a novel I am reading.

[... Taff]

So, to be clear, we have at least 3 types of snorting (let's disregard the wild snorty snort of a suspicious stallion in a Disney film).

1. Relaxed snort
2. Snort at every stride of canter (apparently known as Dragon Breathing at least in the USA)
3. Disney snort (to be ignored)

[acaciaalba]

Maybe its just a thing they do. Like those tennis players that feel the need to grunt or shriek with every hit ?

[tgh05]

Such a busy forum….
One of my horses snuffles when he is pleased/happy.. typically heading out somewhere when he had not been ridden for a while.
Across all the other caps he wears..nothing….

[tgh05]

..and.. further to my intro above.. most modern software sends out notifications when posts are made.. folks turn them off but in the case of cbh a post notification process might engage some who have given up checking…just sayin'…..