Can Horses Sense Our Anxiety and Fear?

I think we all know the answer is yes! However in 2009, Swedish researchers investigated this subject with a very clever study design and I have just come across it again.

Riders and handlers were asked to ride or lead their horses a 30m distance in an indoor school on 4 occasions. The heart rates of both horses and humans were recorded.

Before the 4th walk the handlers were told that an umbrella would be opened next to them as they walked their horse past. The umbrella was then not opened, so the walk was no different to the previous 3 'control' walks.

There was an increase in heart rate for the person leading or riding, AND their horse. The researchers concluded that the heart rate of the horse increased when the person ‘thought’ the horse might be frightened by the umbrella. It is also worth considering the human's body language and behaviour may have changed when they learned about the potential umbrella-opening scenario.

It is so important for us to work on our own arousal levels, body language and behaviour when around our horses, they can be very affected by our emotional state.

Study details: Keeling et al, Investigating horse-human interactions: the effect of a nervous human. Vet J. 2009 Jul;181(1):70-1. doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2009.03.013. Epub 2009 Apr 25. PMID: 19394879. You can find the full study here.