Horses Whinny by Whistling, Sort Of

New research reveals the unique vocal mechanism behind a horse's distinctive neigh.

Feb. 24, 2026 at 12:24am

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Horses produce their distinctive whinny or neigh through a unique combination of low-pitched vocal cord vibrations and high-pitched whistling from their voice box, according to a new study. Researchers used cameras and scans to discover that the high-pitched component of a horse's whinny is created by air vibrating tissues in the voice box while an area above contracts, allowing the whistle-like sound to escape.

Why it matters

Understanding the complex vocal mechanisms of horses provides new insights into animal communication and the evolution of large mammal vocalizations, which are typically lower-pitched. The findings also give horse owners and enthusiasts a better appreciation for the nuances of equine sounds.

The details

The study, published in the journal Current Biology, involved filming the inside of horses' noses while they whinnied and made other sounds, as well as analyzing the voice boxes of deceased horses. Researchers found that the low-pitched portion of a whinny is created similarly to human speech, with air passing over vibrating vocal cords. But the high-pitched whistle-like component is unique, originating from air vibrating tissues in the voice box while an area above contracts to allow the sound to escape.

  • The study was published on Monday, February 24, 2026.

The players

Jenifer Nadeau

A researcher who studies horses at the University of Connecticut, but was not involved in this particular study.

Alisa Herbst

A researcher at Rutgers University's Equine Science Center, who commented on the significance of the study's findings in an email.

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What they’re saying

“I'd never imagined that there was a whistling component. It's really interesting, and I can hear that now.”

— Jenifer Nadeau, Researcher, University of Connecticut

“Knowing that a 'whinny' is not just a 'whinny' but that it is actually composed of two different fundamental frequencies that are created by two different mechanisms is exciting.”

— Alisa Herbst, Researcher, Rutgers University Equine Science Center

The takeaway

This research provides a fascinating new understanding of the complex vocal abilities of horses, revealing that their iconic whinny or neigh is produced through a unique combination of low-pitched vocal cord vibrations and high-pitched whistling from the voice box. These findings offer fresh insights into animal communication and the evolution of large mammal vocalizations.