do horses burp?

[Equiluver]

Last night I was out at the barn. When I was over with my QH filly I could swear she burped! I didn't think too much about it but the BO was there and she said that she would have to do some research on it because horses can't vomit and so she would think can't burp either. Well later I asked my brother who's ex-wife has been around horses all her life. He said it's no big deal, when they had horses he heard them burp quite often. Well, I would like info from someone who KNOWS about horses. He's been around them but never did much with them and doesn't know much technical stuff. I plan on calling my vet and asking but his office is closed on Thurs. (thats when he makes his farm calls). So, until then I knew I could get some answers from all the helpful people on this forum. Sorry about the book, just wanted to give you some background lol. Anyway, when she burped she was eating her grain. She stopped and burped and then continued to eat and drink. She is having normal gut sounds and her stomach doesn't seem to be bothering her from what I could tell. She is also peeing and pooping. So all seems normal. What do you think?

[BigskySB]

I have had horses for 40 years, they live on my home place so I see them every day, have heard them burp on occasion. If your horse does this often or seems in any discomfort, you should consult a veterinarian, an occasional burp I feel, is of no consequence.

[davish]

Although I've not been closely involved with horses as long as bigskysb has, I agree with what she has stated. I've heard horses burp but if you look at the anatamy of thier throat it doesn't make sence. They cannot vomate that is one of the many reasons why they can get colic so easily. Hope this helps!
Heather

[smorrow923]

Horses cannot burp like humans do. It's impossible. The sound you're hearing is probably similar to what my kaz does. It sounds like a burp but it really isn't. I dont know what it is(my cribber can make the same sounds which makes me think they may be related-however Kaz does not crib).

[Equiluver]

OK, since she really hasn't done it often and she isn't a cribber I won't worry too much about it but I will keep an eye on her to make sure she isn't experiencing any pain. Thank all of you for your quick response. I really appreciate the help! Have a great Holiday

Kristin

[SmartAlex]

I have heard horses burp about 2 or 3 times in my lifetime. It was just a little burp, but that's what it was... smells and every thing.

[saddlebred26]

Here is a link to a short Q&A from The Horse. They can, and I've heard it a couple of times. The initial answer concluded cribbing, but it was determined that it was actually a belch.
http://thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=10693&kw=cribbing

[Equiluver]

Thanks so much for the info and input everyone! I really liked the article from thehorse.com going on everything from this forum I will keep an eye on her and if it gets worse or more frequent call the vet. I know she isn't stressed. She is just under 2 years, not going through any training except ground manners and she is pastured except for when she comes in to gett her hay and grain. Thanks again everyone and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

[Titza]

Yes, they can!

There's a new study in Germany, too (not published, yet) and one of Prof. Daniel Mills, UK.
It's due to much gastric acid, just the same with humans. Also too much gastric acid and even gastric ulcer can cause crib-biting, which most of the time is equal to burping (if it's not a stereotypie), cause horses try to ged rid of the acid from too much grain-food.
Prof. Mills had a study, where he gave "Rennie", calcium/magnesium-carbonate-tablets, to crib-biting horses and that lowered the rate of many percent.

If it will appear very often I would check the concentrate grain feed (not the hay, but the other, don't know the English word), cause many YOUNG horses do not tolerate too much of it too early and get gestric problems which may end up in crib-biting.

Cheers, Titza

[Lily]

I have a 29 year old Arab mare that I have had since she was 12, many years ago she coliced and the vet out to tube her w/mineral oil. after he treated her she let out the biggest burp:o I have ever heard. I too was shocked to hear this as I did not think a horse could burp but she sure did. She has never done that since but she has never coiliced again either.

[JohnDeere]

My ASB makes burping noises when he cribs the air sometimes. He just turned 26 and has been cribbing the air and making those noises for as long as we've had him (11 years) so I guess it hasn't bothered him much. Lol