Apart from the usual greeting of a whinny or a snort, horses dont tend to make a lot of respiratory noise when they are at rest, so any increase in frequency or loudness of noise could indicate that there is a problem.There are of course sounds that are made during exercise, some of which are completely normal, and others that may need further investigation. Diagnosis and treatment may be covered in your horse health insurance policy, if you have one, so it is worth speaking to them to find out.Horses are obligate nasal breathers, meaning they carry out all of their breathing through their nose and are unable to breathe exclusively through their mouths as we can.When the horse takes a breath, the air passes through the back of the throat, through an opening called the larynx and down the windpipe (trachea) into the lungs. Usually, when a horse is exercising, the larynx opens up, allowing the free passage of air. However, in some horses the larynx cannot open completely, resulting in an obstruction to the airflow and an increase in noise.Snorting or blowing sounds at exercise may be normal in some horses due to vibrations of the tissue in the nostrils and these horses are given the name high blowers. As long as the amount of noise is consistent, and the horse is able to carry out the required exercise without any problems, then this shouldnt be anything to worry about.Respiratory noisesWhistling or roaringThese respiratory noises can occur when there is paralysis on one or both sides of the horses larynx, resulting in a narrowing of the larynx and therefore airway obstruction.It is more common in racehorses but can be seen in other breeds, especially in larger horses. In most cases surgery is required to open up the airway. This prevents the obstruction from occurring, allowing the air to move through the larynx more easily.GurglingA gurgling or choking noise, followed by the horse stopping or trying to swallow, can indicate another problem with the throat called displacement of the soft palate.Again, this more commonly occurs in racehorses. Sometimes a drop noseband or a tongue-tie can help to reduce the incidence of this occurring, but often surgery is required.CoughingOccasionally horses cough when first exercised, but if the horse is seen to cough multiple times, either at rest or during exercise, this should be investigated.Coughing often occurs due to the inhalation of an irritant such as dust or pollen and may be more likely during exercise because the horses airways are having to work harder.Continuous coughing at rest may indicate that there is a more severe reaction and may be associated with respiratory distress, seen as increased breathing rate and the horse needing to make more effort to breathe.Viruses can also respiratory noises such as coughing and there is usually more than one horse affected. They may also be off their food, lethargic and have a high temperature.WheezingThis noise can be heard alongside coughing as it is often heard in horses who have a dust or pollen allergy.Usually, the wheezing can only be heard through a stethoscope, but in severe cases it may be heard when you are standing next to the horse, being noticeable when the horse is breathing in and out.The noise indicates that the airways have become narrowed, causing the horse to struggle to breathe.Often a wheezing horse will be suffering from respiratory distress.If these signs are seen, your vet should be called straight away so that they can give treatment to open up the airways, making the horse more comfortable and enabling them to breathe more easily.Abdominal noisesWith the help of a stethoscope, your vet will be able to hear gut sounds in a normal, healthy horse. This indicates that the intestines are working to digest the food that the horse has eaten.An absence of gut sounds can be a cause for concern, as it could indicate that the horse hasnt been eating properly, or that there is an impaction or obstruction in the intestines.An increase in gut noises can occasionally be heard without the use of a stethoscope, and could be normal or could indicate that the guts are hyperactive.Sometimes, in cases of gassy colic, the horse will appear to have a bloated belly and will have increased gut sounds, which could be due to a recent change in diet and may be associated with abdominal pain, passing wind and diarrhoea. Often, horses will improve with the help of some pain relief, but they should still be checked by a vet to ensure that there isnt something more serious going onLimb notesSometimes, we can hear clicks and cracks from our horses legs. What do they mean?Clicking: When a horse moves, you may be able to hear popping or clicking noises, similar to the noise when we crack our knuckles or our back. Providing the horse is not showing any signs of pain or lameness, this is normal and is caused by gas moving around the joint.Crackling: When a joint is manipulated or moved around, sometimes crackling or crunching can be heard. This is known as crepitus and can be associated with arthritis. Arthritis is a painful condition and often the joint will be warm and swollen with lameness present. Anti-inflammatories are the mainstay of treatment and sometimes injecting medications into the joint can help to reduce the pain and inflammation associated with arthritis.Scraping: When you are leading or riding your horse, listen out for any noises that might come from the feet. If you watch the horse carefully when they are moving, you may notice a reduced stride length, scraping of the toe on the ground or uneven placement of the foot. These signs can indicate lameness or neurological abnormalities and should be checked out by your vet.ObesityAn increase in respiratory noise can be heard in overweight and fat horses due to the excess tissue around their neck putting pressure on the throat. These horses are known as being thick-winded and, with a training plan to improve fitness, the noises they make should improve.Main image ShutterstockRelated contentWhy is my horse coughing?All about equine flu and how to lower the riskStrangles in horses: latest vet advice for this contagious diseaseHay vs haylage: which is best?The post What is that noise your horse is making and should you be worried? Vet explains appeared first on Your Horse.