Horses' Unique Whinny Explained by Scientists

Researchers discover horses whistle to produce the high-pitched part of their signature call.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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A new study has revealed the secret behind horses' distinctive whinny. Researchers found that the high-pitched portion of the whinny is created by a whistling mechanism in the horse's voice box, which works in combination with the lower-pitched sounds produced by vibrating vocal cords, similar to human speech and singing. This makes horses the first known large mammals capable of whistling through their voice boxes while vocalizing.

Why it matters

Understanding how horses produce their signature whinny provides insight into the evolution and function of this complex vocalization. The ability to convey multiple messages simultaneously through differently pitched neighs may help horses express a wider range of emotions and social cues when interacting.

The details

To uncover the mystery of the whinny, researchers used small cameras to film the inside of horses' vocal systems as they made different sounds. They also conducted scans and airflow tests on the isolated voice boxes of deceased horses. The high-pitched whistle-like component of the whinny was found to originate in the voice box, where air vibrates the vocal tissues while a nearby area contracts to create a small opening for the whistle to escape. This is different from human whistling, which is done with the mouth.

  • The study was published on February 23, 2026.

The players

Elodie Mandel-Briefer

The lead author of the study, affiliated with the University of Copenhagen.

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.

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What they’re saying

“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 (Email)

“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 (N/A)

What’s next

Researchers still have questions about how horses' unique two-toned whinny evolved, as the ability is not shared by all equine species.

The takeaway

The discovery that horses can whistle through their voice boxes while vocalizing provides new insights into the complexity of animal communication and the diverse mechanisms species have developed to express themselves.