07/09/2024
It turns out the old adage about horses being able to smell your fear might actually hold some truth. But it is not just fear; horses can also pick up on your happiness. I’ve included one research study and two articles inspired by other such studies below, with the piece from the Paulick Report being particularly interesting because of its interview.
One thing this had me thinking about is the fact that traditionally, it is believed among some of the equestrian population that a horse sensing human fear will either become fearful themselves or try to take advantage of a fearful rider or handler. This viewpoint seldom considers the possibility of a horse expressing empathy. Yet, many of us have seen instances where horses behave gently and protectively, especially towards vulnerable children and adults.
This raises an interesting question about the nature of a horse’s emotional intelligence and their ability to not just sense, but also interpret and respond to, human emotions.
As we continue to research this fascinating aspect of equine behavior, it is worth considering how our understanding of, and response to, their emotional reactions can enhance the way we train, care for, and interact with horses. Their reactions to our emotions are likely as varied and complex as horses themselves, reflecting a depth of sensitivity that deserves our attention and respect.
I am not sure how researchers can go about measuring depth, range and nuances in emotions vs things like fear and happiness but I am interested to see them try.
https://paulickreport.com/horse-care-category/can-horses-really-smell-fear-yes-and-thats-not-all/
https://equimanagement.com/research-medical/equine-discrimination-of-human-body-odors-fear-and-joy/
The study:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-30119-8
Another really interesting study which explains amongst other things how horses use their olfactory (smell), audio (hearing) and visual (sight) senses to channel positive or negative stimuli to the specific brain hemisphere most proficient at processing that particular emotional content. Recognizing which ear, nostril or eye a horse uses in any given situation can help a horseperson get a better read on how the horse feels and respond accordingly.
https://theses.hal.science/tel-02360897v1/document
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