When working with horses, calmness and predictability are crucial. Unsettled situations can lead to dangerous reactions for both animals and people.
For this reason, researchers have long been interested in how horses perceive human signals.
According to new research published in PLOS One, behavioral researcher Grete H. M. Jørgensen from Nibio explains that horses are highly attentive to human body language and mood.
She points out that many riders have experienced that their own stress or nervousness can transfer to the animal.
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This applies, for example, in traffic or unfamiliar environments, where a horse may react more strongly if the human appears uneasy.
How it was studied
The researchers worked with 43 mares that were accustomed to humans. They used sweat collected on cotton pads from people who had either experienced fear or positive emotions.
The horses were exposed to various test situations, while observers did not know which type of sweat the animals had been given.
This was intended to ensure that the assessments were not influenced by expectations, the study states.
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What the researchers found
The results were clear. Horses exposed to sweat from frightened humans appeared more anxious and had higher heart rates. They also avoided contact with humans more often.
There was no difference between neutral sweat and sweat from happy individuals.
The researchers behind the study conclude that this knowledge is important for both safety and animal welfare, even though the cause of the reaction is not yet fully understood.
Sources: Forskning.no, and PLOS One.
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