A horse snort is made by a horse inhaling quickly and then exhaling with a distinctive "snorting" sound. The horse snort can be made to clear airways or expel insects, irritants, or parasites. Snorting while the horse grazes may also serve as an intimidation tactic while competing for food with other horses. Horses also snort when they are startled by something, such as a loud noise or an unfamiliar object, or to express their emotions.
A horse squeal is made when the horse exhales with a high-pitched, sharp sound. Horses may squeal when they are in pain, experiencing fear or panic, or when playing. Young horses often squeal while playing and that's perfectly normal and not concerning. When horses are in pain or distress, horse owners can tell that their horse is squealing instead of snorting by the horse's body language, for example, a squeal is likely to be accompanied by other signs of distress, such as pawing at the ground and/or sweating.