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emotional state of horses kept in individual stables. The study showed that horses allowed to spend short periods of time with another horse displayed fewer stress-related behaviours, were calmer around humans, and appeared to perceive their environment more positively.
The research, carried out in France, involved 20 adult saddle-bred sport horses living in individual stalls. Over four months, half of the horses were given one hour of daily social contact in a “meeting box,” where they could interact freely with another horse. The remaining horses stayed fully isolated. Researchers observed all horses in their stalls, during grooming sessions with humans, and in a judgement bias test designed to assess emotional state.
In their stables, horses that had daily social contact displayed fewer stereotypic behaviours such as repetitive movements or abnormal oral actions compared with isolated horses. They also showed lower levels of aggressiveness, apathy, and hypervigilance, all indicators of compromised welfare.
During grooming, the socially housed horses were less tense and more relaxed, showing fewer negative reactions toward handlers. They also spent less time on alert, suggesting that regular interaction with other horses not only improved their general mood but also strengthened their trust in humans.
The results of the judgement bias test supported these behavioural observations. Horses that had daily social contact displayed a more optimistic bias, meaning they interpreted ambiguous stimuli more positively than their isolated counterparts. In welfare science, such optimism is considered a sign of a positive emotional state.
The findings highlight how social needs remain fundamental to equine welfare, even for horses managed in modern livery or competition environments. Horses are inherently social animals, and complete isolation can lead to behavioural problems, reduced welfare, and a less positive relationship with humans.
Overall, the findings indicate that even temporary but regular opportunities for social interaction can enhance the emotional wellbeing of individually housed horses.
The researchers concluded that providing horses with the chance to engage in natural social behaviours helps reduce stress, prevent the development of stereotypies, and promote a more positive perception of their environment.
These results underline the importance of social needs in horse management. For a highly social species such as Equus caballus, complete isolation can have significant welfare costs. Allowing horses to interact, even for short periods, appears to improve their mental state, behaviour, and responses to human handling - key elements in maintaining both welfare and performance.
This suggests practical applications for yards and training centres where full group turnout may not always be possible.
By meeting horses’ natural social needs, owners and managers can help reduce stress-related behaviours, improve handling responses, and support a more positive emotional outlook.
In summary, horses that are given opportunities for daily social contact appear not only calmer and more optimistic but also more comfortable in their interactions with humans. The study adds to growing evidence that social enrichment, even in small doses, plays a crucial role in promoting both welfare and performance in stabled horses.
For more details, see:
A. Flamand, L. Robinet, A. Raskin, M. Braconnier, A. Bouhamidi, G. Derolez, C. Lochin, C. Helleu, O. Petit,
The social dimension of equine welfare: social contact positively affects the emotional state of stalled horses,
Animal Behaviour, (2025) Vol 221,123055.
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