According to studies yawning is related to switching from one state to another. With the net result of going from the sympathetic state (flight and fight) to the parasympathetic (rest and restore) ✨ Licks and chews has the same effect And sniffing is somewhat self explaining… Would you stop to smell the roses while fleeing from dangers? What I find somewhat surprising is that these signs are by many equestrians considered calming signals indicating the (poor) horse has been stressed 🙈 Which mig