Can horses sense your fear?

Quick Peek:

Horses can read human emotions, says a study by the University of Guelph in Canada. The research found that horses can differentiate between people with neutral, fearful and stressed expressions and respond accordingly. When exposed to someone fearful, horses became stressed, exhibiting an increased heart rate and more movement. The study’s lead author, Dr Katrina Merkies, said the findings had important implications for horse welfare and that people working with horses needed to be aware of their own emotional states.

Can Horses Read Your Emotions?

As a horse enthusiast, you know that horses are incredibly intuitive creatures. They seem to have a sixth sense when it comes to picking up on our emotions. But can horses actually sense when we’re afraid or stressed?

A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, suggests that horses do, in fact, have the ability to read some signals that indicate whether a nearby person is stressed or afraid. The study’s findings were published on December 7, 2017.

The Study’s Findings

The study involved exposing horses to different stimuli, including a person with a neutral expression, a person with a fearful expression, and a person with a stressed expression. The researchers found that the horses were able to differentiate between the different expressions and respond accordingly.

When the horses were exposed to a person with a fearful expression, they exhibited signs of stress themselves, including an increased heart rate and more movement. When the horses were exposed to a person with a stressed expression, they also showed signs of stress, but to a lesser degree.

The study’s lead author, Dr. Katrina Merkies, noted that the horses’ ability to read human emotions could have important implications for their welfare. “If we’re working with horses, we need to be aware of our own emotional state,” she said. “We need to be aware that they’re reading us, and we need to be aware of how that might be impacting them.”

The Science Behind It

So how do horses pick up on our emotions? According to Dr. Merkies, it’s likely that horses are reading our body language and other subtle cues.

“Horses are very good at reading body language,” she explained. “They’re very good at reading the small movements that we make, the subtle changes in our facial expressions, and the tone of our voice.”

It’s also possible that horses are picking up on pheromones, which are chemical signals that we give off when we’re stressed or afraid.

What This Means for Horse Owners

If you’re a horse owner, it’s important to be aware of the impact that your emotions can have on your horse. Horses are incredibly perceptive creatures, and they can pick up on even the slightest changes in our behavior and body language.

If you’re feeling stressed or afraid, it’s important to take a step back and assess your emotional state before interacting with your horse. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s okay to take a break and come back to your horse when you’re feeling more centered.

It’s also important to be mindful of your body language and tone of voice when interacting with your horse. If you’re feeling stressed or anxious, your horse will pick up on that and may become more agitated as a result.

The Bottom Line

While the idea that horses can read our emotions may seem like something out of a fairy tale, the results of this study suggest that there may be some truth to it. Horses are incredibly perceptive creatures, and they have a remarkable ability to pick up on our emotions and respond accordingly.

As a horse enthusiast, it’s important to be mindful of your own emotional state when interacting with your horse. By being aware of your emotions and taking steps to manage them, you can help ensure that your horse remains calm and happy, and that your relationship with your horse remains strong and positive.