Measuring grazing behaviour in horses with sound recorders

Recording how much time horses spend grazing is an important part of many behavioural studies. Traditionally, this has been done through direct observation or video recordings, but these methods are time-consuming and labour-intensive.

Researchers at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh (Daisy Taylor and Bryony Lancaster), together with Andrea Ellis of UNEQUI Ltd, Cornwall, have tested a simpler alternative: using small sound recorders attached to horses’ headcollars. These devices capture the sounds of chewing and biting, offering a low-cost and less labour-intensive way of measuring grass intake behaviour.

The studies

• Pilot Study 1: One Icelandic pony in Shetland was recorded for short periods. Chews and bites per minute measured from sound recordings closely matched counts from video observation.
• Pilot Study 2: Two ponies were observed directly while wearing sound recorders. Grazing times from the devices strongly matched visual observations.
• Main Study: Three ponies were monitored in semi-feral conditions over several days. Sound recordings and visual observations again showed very similar results.

Key findings

• Sound recorders accurately measured chews, bites, and grazing time.
• Results remained reliable across different seasons and weather conditions.
• The devices did not interfere with the horses’ natural behaviour.

Conclusion

Sound recorders attached to headcollars provide a reliable, affordable, and non-invasive method of recording grazing behaviour in horses. They could be used in both research and practical settings, helping to:

• Measure foraging behaviour in pasture or stabled horses.
• Compare chewing and biting across different feeds and breeds.
• Monitor welfare by assessing whether horses’ foraging needs are being met.
• Detect possible issues such as oral stereotypies or dental problems.

This method offers an effective alternative to visual observation, saving time and effort while providing accurate data on equine grazing behaviour.

 

For more details, see: 

Taylor, Daisy E. F., Bryony E. Lancaster, and Andrea D. Ellis. 2025. 

The Use of Sound Recorders to Remotely Measure Grass Intake Behaviour in Horses

 Animals 15, no. 15: 2273. 

https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15152273

Ethogram for understanding horse emotions and social behaviour

(c) Golop Dreamstime.com

 Researchers at the University of Portsmouth’s Centre for Comparative and Evolutionary Psychology have developed the first anatomically-based ethogram of equine facial behaviour, offering a tool for understanding how horses communicate through facial movements. This ethogram—essentially a structured catalogue of facial actions—captures how domestic horses use their faces to convey emotions such as curiosity, aggression, playfulness, and attentiveness across a variety of social contexts.

Unlike the term “facial expression,” which often implies an associated emotion, the researchers have deliberately used the term facial behaviour. This distinction acknowledges that while some facial movements may correlate with emotional states, not all facial changes are necessarily expressive in the emotional sense. This neutral terminology allows for more objective observation and coding of equine facial movements.

 

The aim of the study was to develop an ethogram of equine facial behaviour observed during horse-horse interactions. These interactions were categorised into affiliative (non-play), play, agonistic (conflict), and attentional contexts. Using the Equine Facial Action Coding System (EquiFACS)—an established method that links visible facial changes to specific underlying muscle movements—the researchers documented 805 facial expressions across 22 distinct behaviours.

 

Crucially, they employed a novel statistical tool to analyse how these facial actions cluster in different social scenarios, providing new insights into the functional roles of facial behaviour in equine communication.

 

The study revealed that horses exhibit a wide and nuanced range of facial behaviours depending on the social context:

 

Agonistic Interactions
Aggressive or conflict-based interactions were marked by flattened, backward-facing ears, inner brow raisings, nostril dilation, and head-lowering. These signals offer clear warnings of potential escalation, helping horses (and human observers) anticipate and de-escalate conflict.

 

Attentional States
When alert or investigating their environment, horses displayed forward-pointing, closely positioned ears. Additional markers included increased blinking or half-blinking, and head positions that facilitated sensory focus, such as lifting the head to enhance visual attention.

 

Friendly Interactions
Interestingly, affiliative interactions were often characterised by relatively neutral facial behaviour. Contrary to the common belief that ears forward indicate positive emotion, this was not consistently observed. This suggests that minimal facial movement in these contexts may actually signal comfort and positive mood—highlighting the importance of considering the broader behavioural and social context.

 

Play Behaviour
Playful interactions involved the most dynamic facial displays, including dropped lower lips, raised chins, parted lips, open mouths, flattened or rotated ears, prominent eye whites, and forward-thrust nostrils. Many of these expressions resemble the open-mouth play faces seen in primates and carnivores, supporting the idea of a shared evolutionary origin for certain play behaviours across mammalian species.

 

“We found that horses often use the same facial movements across different contexts, but the combinations and intensities vary,” explained Dr Kate Lewis, lead author. “This flexibility underscores the importance of considering the whole body and context when interpreting equine behaviour.”

 

One of the most intriguing findings was the identification of a previously unrecorded facial movement, designated as AUH21, involving the platysma muscle. (The platysma muscle  is a thin, superficial muscle located just beneath the skin. It extends along the side of the face and neck, originating from the region near the ear and inserting into the skin of the neck and shoulder. Its primary function is to move the skin, aiding in facial expressions and helping to twitch the skin to repel insects.)This movement causes tightening on the side of the face, making the underlying anatomical structures more visible. AUH21 has previously only been documented in humans and gibbons, making its discovery in horses significant for comparative biology. It may also offer new avenues for evaluating emotional states and pain indicators in equine clinical settings.

 

By providing a scientifically validated reference for interpreting equine facial behaviour, the ethogram is poised to become a vital resource for equine veterinarians, behaviourists, trainers, and students of equine science.

 

“This is the first time we’ve been able to systematically document how horses combine facial movements into meaningful expressions,” said Dr Leanne Proops, Associate Professor in Animal Behaviour and Welfare. “It opens up new possibilities for understanding equine emotions and improving welfare.”

 

The study is published in PeerJ, along with the full ethogram and supporting analyses, offering a robust framework for further research and practical application.

 

“This work is a game-changer for anyone working with horses,” Dr Proops added. “It gives us a new lens through which to view and interpret their behaviour, ultimately leading to better care and stronger human-animal relationships.”

 

For more details, see: 

 

Lewis K, McBride SD, Micheletta J, Parker MO, Rincon AV, Wathan J, Proops L.(2025). 

An ethogram of facial behaviour in domestic horses: evolutionary perspectives on form and function. 

PeerJ 13:e19309

https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.19309

Impact of turnout rugs on horse behaviour: a study under mild weather conditions

(c) Mike Taylor | Dreamstime.com

Rugging horses is a widespread practice, commonly used to keep them warm and dry in cold, wet weather or to protect them from insects and sunlight in warmer conditions. However, rugs may also pose drawbacks — potentially causing thermal discomfort or restricting natural behaviours such as grooming and movement.

Despite the routine use of rugs, especially in the UK where spring and autumn bring relatively moderate weather, few studies have examined how horses behave with and without rugs in such conditions. A recent study by Frederick Daw and colleagues at the Royal Veterinary College, London, aimed to address this gap. The research, published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science, provides evidence that can help owners make more informed decisions about rug use to support equine welfare.

The study involved ten healthy horses, all accustomed to wearing rugs, from two different yards in southern England. Each horse was observed during 30-minute sessions, with and without a turnout rug, across several weeks. A total of 172 observation sessions were carried out, ensuring that each horse experienced both conditions in roughly equal measure.

Weather conditions during the study ranged from 1°C to 15°C, with wind speeds of 6 to 15 mph. Importantly, no signs of heat or cold stress were noted in any horse throughout the study period. The researchers analysed behavioural data using Generalised Estimating Equations (GEE), a statistical method that accounts for repeated measures on the same individuals.

The results showed a mix of both positive and negative effects associated with rugging:

·       Reduced insect-related behaviour: Horses wearing rugs exhibited significantly less tail swishing and head shaking, behaviours commonly linked to fly or midge irritation. Midges (Culicoides spp.) were observed at both sites, particularly when temperatures were higher and winds lower - conditions known to favour insect activity. These findings suggest that turnout rugs may offer effective protection against insect harassment under mild weather conditions.

·       Increased grazing at one site: At one of the two study locations, rugged horses spent more time grazing. This may reflect reduced fly irritation or increased comfort when wearing rugs.

However, the study also highlighted potential concerns:

·       Reduced movement and grooming: Horses wearing rugs were observed to walk less and perform fewer self-grooming behaviours. Both activities are considered important for physical health and psychological well-being. Their reduction may indicate that the rugs, though protective, imposed some physical restriction or discomfort  - possibly due to their weight or design.

·       Site-specific differences: The effects of rugging varied significantly between the two locations, suggesting that environmental factors and management practices also influence how horses respond to being rugged. Therefore, caution is needed when generalising these findings to other settings.

Tail swishing was found to increase with temperature (by 1.33 swishes per 1°C) and decrease with windspeed (by 0.84 swishes per 1 mph). These results further support the conclusion that environmental conditions - particularly warmth and still air - are key drivers of insect-related behaviours in horses.

This study indicates that during mild weather conditions (above 5°C), lightweight turnout rugs may help reduce insect-related discomfort in horses. However, rug choice matters: heavier or poorly fitting rugs may inhibit natural behaviour, outweighing any protective benefits.

The researchers conclude:

“When weather conditions are relatively mild (above 5 °C), horse welfare may be improved more by the use of lightweight turnout rugs for fly protection rather than heavyweight rugs designed primarily for warmth.”

They also call for further studies to test this idea more directly — in particular, by assessing the impact of purpose-designed fly rugs under mild autumn conditions, as opposed to standard waterproof turnout rugs.

For more details, see:

 

Frederick Daw, Charlotte Burn, Yu-Mei Chang, Christine Nicol,

Effect of turnout rugs on the behaviour of horses under mild autumn conditions in the United Kingdom,

Applied Animal Behaviour Science, (2025) vol 288,106661

 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106661

Electroacupuncture offers hope for horses with headshaking syndrome, study finds

(c) Dunkel et al 2025 CC BY 4.0

A recent study from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has indicated that electroacupuncture
could assist horses suffering from trigeminal-mediated headshaking (TMHS), with nearly two-thirds of treated horses showing improvement.

TMHS is a neurological disorder that causes horses to involuntarily shake or flick their heads. The condition is linked to the trigeminal nerve, which may become overly sensitive and react strongly to normal stimuli such as sunlight, wind, or touch. Affected horses may exhibit signs such as repetitive headshaking, snorting, or rubbing their noses.

TMHS is painful and potentially dangerous, often making riding difficult. In severe cases, it may lead to euthanasia if quality of life cannot be maintained. The exact cause remains unknown, and there is currently no cure.

Electroacupuncture (EA) is a treatment combining traditional acupuncture with electrical stimulation. Fine needles are inserted at specific points, and a mild current is passed through them. This is thought to influence nerve activity and pain perception, which can be beneficial in conditions involving nerve dysfunction like TMHS.

Unlike more invasive nerve therapies such as PENS (percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation), EA can be performed in a regular stable environment and does not usually require sedation or specialist equipment.

The research was led by Professor Bettina Dunkel, Head of RVC Equine, with final-year veterinary student Georgia Hildon and four external collaborators. It is the largest study to date examining the effectiveness of electroacupuncture for TMHS.

In this retrospective study, information was gathered from veterinary records and follow-up with owners of cases treated between 2015 and 2024. Data was available from a total of 179 electroacupuncture treatments on 42 horses.

Information collected included the horse’s medical history and TMHS severity, the number of treatments given and the changes in severity of headshaking before and after treatment (graded 0–3).

Analysis of the data showed that EA was well tolerated by all horses, with no significant complications reported. The researchers found:

·      64% of horses improved after their final treatment.

·      33% had complete resolution of headshaking signs.

·      31% showed no change, and 4.8% worsened after treatment.

·      Average headshaking severity dropped from grade 3 (severe) to grade 1 (mild).

This study supports electroacupuncture as a safe option for managing TMHS -   especially for horses that do not respond to traditional treatments.

While it doesn’t work for every horse, the results are promising, given how challenging TMHS is to treat.

The researchers suggested that refining the treatment protocol—such as adjusting the duration or frequency of EA—could lead to even better results. They emphasise that it is also important to rule out other possible causes of headshaking (e.g., dental problems, allergies) before starting EA.

Professor Dunkel said: “Electroacupuncture is a viable treatment option for horses suffering from this devastating disease. We are very pleased with the results of the study and hope that it will encourage veterinarians and horse owners to pursue this treatment option.”

For more details, see:

Dunkel, B., Hildon, G.L., Coumbe, K. M., Busuttil, E., von Schweinitz, D. & Devereux, S. (2025) Electroacupuncture as a treatment for suspected trigeminal nerve-mediated head-shaking in 42 horses. 

Equine Veterinary Education, 00, 1–7. 

https://doi.org/10.1111/eve.14135

Behavioural signs of gastric pain

(c) Abby Thoriaty Dreamstime

 Researchers have identified distinctive behavioural signs that may indicate equine gastric discomfort.

Gastric ulcers are often believed to be the cause of a wide range of behavioural and performance issues in horses. Studies suggest that between 60% and 80% of horses across various disciplines experience gastric ulceration. However, a definitive diagnosis requires gastroscopy.

Are there specific behavioural indicators that reliably suggest gastric ulceration? Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine’s New Bolton Center believe so.

In research published in Animals, Catherine Torcivia and Sue M. McDonnell explored this question. As part of their clinical assessments, they regularly analyse 24-hour video recordings of hospitalised horses to detect subtle signs of discomfort, or intermittent signs caused by heart or neurological problems, which might otherwise go unnoticed. Over the years, they suspected that certain behaviours were associated with gastric disease.

Their findings suggest that specific discomfort behaviours are strongly linked to gastric disease. These behaviours include frequent attention to the cranial abdomen—such as nuzzling, swatting, nipping, and/or a focused gaze on the abdomen caudal to the elbow—as well as deep abdominal stretching. These signs were often observed while horses were eating, drinking, or anticipating feeding.

To investigate this further, they conducted a study to evaluate how reliably these behaviours correlated with gastric disease. They reviewed clinical records of 30 cases where 24-hour video behaviour evaluations had been conducted alongside gastroscopic examinations.

Of the 30 horses studied, 26 were diagnosed with gastric disease—either gastric ulcers or gastric impaction. Gastric discomfort behaviours were observed in 24 of these 26 horses but were absent in all four horses without gastric disease. Among the six horses that did not display these behaviours, four had no abnormalities on gastroscopy, while two exhibited only mild lesions.

The researchers conclude that, although a larger study is needed to accurately estimate the sensitivity and specificity of these behavioural associations with gastric disease, the findings support their long-held clinical impression that gastric discomfort in horses has a recognisable behavioural signature.

For more details, see:

 

Torcivia, Catherine, and Sue M. McDonnell. 2025. 

Behavioral Signature of Equine Gastric Discomfort? Preliminary Retrospective Clinical Observations

Animals (2025) 15, no. 1: 88. 

https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15010088

Do horses have “senior moments”

(c) Mariia Itina Dreamstime.com

As people age, they often experience what are commonly known as "senior moments - instances of forgetfulness,
confusion, or a general decline in mental sharpness. This deterioration of cognitive faculties is a natural part of the aging process in humans. 

With advances in veterinary care and improved management practices, horses, like humans, are also living longer than ever before. Traditionally, horses have been considered to become old around 15 years of age. However, it is not unusual now for horses to live into their 30s, with some even exceeding 40 years of age.

 

This raises an interesting question: do horses show similar age-related cognitive changes? Can older horses display signs of reduced memory or recognition skills, and do they sometimes seem to "forget" familiar routines or places?

 

Researchers at the University of Pisa in Italy conducted a study to evaluate the cognitive abilities of horses as they age. They employed a behavioural assessment known as the Target Touch Test to measure both learning capacity and memory (short- and long-term) in adult and senior horses. The study is reported in the journal Animals.

 

The study included 44 clinically healthy horses from local riding schools. These horses were divided into two groups according to age: 21 adult horses (aged 5–15 years) and 23 senior horses (aged 16 years and older). All participants were free from stereotypic behaviours and had no prior exposure to clicker training to ensure uniform baseline conditions.

 

The Target Touch Test involved multiple stages to evaluate how well the horses could learn to interact with a specific target and retain that knowledge over time. The procedure was as follows:

 

1. First Phase – Clicker Training:

Each horse was trained to associate the sound of a clicker with a reward (a piece of carrot).

2. Second Phase – Initial Target Training:

Horses were trained to touch a target—a tennis ball affixed to a stick—held in front of them. This phase aimed to reinforce the learned association between touching the target and receiving a reward.

3. Third Phase – Independent Target Interaction:

The target was placed in a visible location within the horse’s stable, and the handler moved away. Each horse was given up to three minutes to approach and touch the target to earn a reward. The time taken to successfully touch the target was recorded.

 

Phases 2 and 3 were repeated two more times to assess consistency in performance and retention of the learned behaviour. The entire test sequence was carried out on day one (T1).

 

Ten days later (T10) the research team repeated phase 3 of the test to evaluate the horses’ long-term memory. Horses were allowed three minutes to touch the target and earn a reward.  Again, the test was carried out three times.

 

Analysis of the data showed that both the adult and senior horses quickly associated the click with the reward in phase 1, demonstrating that even senior horses are capable of associative learning.

 

During Phase 3 of the test on the first day, researchers found no significant difference in the time taken to touch the target between adult and senior horses.

 

However, after ten days, the senior horses did not perform as well as the adults. Each attempt by the senior horses was much slower than the adults and two senior horses failed to complete the test in any of their three attempts. 

 

There was considerable variability in the performance of senior females after ten days, but the researchers did not observe a significant difference between males and females in the time taken to complete the test.

 

The researchers conclude “even senior horses are capable of associative learning, maintaining the memory of this learning even after 10 days. However, they show slower recovery times for recalling memorised information compared to animals under 16 years of age.”

 

 

For more details, see: 

 

Cellai S, Gazzano A, Casini L, Gazzano V, Cecchi F, Macchioni F, Cozzi A, Pageat L, Arroub S, Fratini S, et al. Felici M,  Curadi MC, Baragli P.

The Memory Abilities of the Elderly Horse. 

Animals. 2024; 14(21):3073. 

https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14213073

Can Horses Sniff Out Poisonous Plants?

(c) Victoria Shibut Dreamstime.com

Recent research from Poland suggests that horses may use their sense of smell to avoid
poisonous plants. 

Many plants are toxic to horses, potentially causing serious health issues or even death if ingested. So how do horses identify poisonous plants? 

In the wild, horses may avoid unfamiliar plants or those with bitter or unpleasant tastes. Domesticated horses may not always avoid toxic plants. Overgrazed pastures or contaminated hay can expose them to harmful species, clouding their natural foraging instincts.

 

A study by Izabela Wilk and colleagues at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland, tested whether stabled horses could distinguish poisonous plants by scent alone. The researchers presented six plants to the horses, enclosed in boxes so the horses could only smell them, not see or touch them. 

 

The plants included three poisonous species: Common Yew (Taxus baccata), Common Box (Buxus sempervirens), and Northern White-Cedar (Thuja occidentalis), as well as three non-poisonous ones: Parsley (Petroselinum crispum), Dill (Anethum graveolens), and Arugula (Eruca sativa).

 

The horses were trained to approach and investigate the boxes. Researchers observed the time they spent exploring each box and found that horses spent significantly more time investigating non-poisonous plants. This suggests that horses may be able to discriminate between novel odours and rely on olfaction to avoid toxic plants.

 

While this ability may help horses avoid danger, it is not foolproof, and their environment plays a significant role in their exposure to harmful species.

 

For more details, see

 

Izabela Wilk, Elżbieta Wnuk, Anna Stachurska, Wiktoria Janicka, Ewelina Tkaczyk, Natalia Kumanowicz, Jarosław Łuszczyński,

Explorative behaviour in horses when presented with unfamiliar poisonous and non-poisonous plants,

Applied Animal Behaviour Science, (2024) Vol 277, 106352,

 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106352

 

Do haynets affect tooth wear in horses?

(c) Nigel Baker Dreamstime.com

Using haynets to feed horses has several benefits, including reducing hay waste and slowing down consumption. 

However, there are potential downsides, such as the risk of injury and unnatural feeding positions. When individual haynets are hung too high, horses may eat with their heads raised, which may lead to muscle discomfort and long-term problems. This position also increases the chance of inhaling dust or hay particles, which may cause respiratory issues.Do haynets also influence tooth wear.?

 

Michelle DeBoer and colleagues conducted a study to compare horse body weight and condition, hay consumption, tooth wear, and dental conditions between horses fed with or without hay nets. 

 

The work was presented at the Equine Science Society Symposium 2023, and a report is published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science.

 

Thirteen adult geldings were recruited for the cross-over study and divided into two groups.

 

They were housed in adjacent dry lots with access to shelter and water. Both groups were fed round hay bales in feeders, with one group of six horses receiving hay wrapped in hay nets, while the other five horses were given hay without nets.

 

The study spanned two years, with the two groups switching halfway through: the five horses that initially had their hay wrapped switched to unwrapped hay, while the six horses moved to wrapped hay.

 

The researchers tracked hay consumption and monitored dental health, including incisor length, dental abnormalities, and conditions. They also recorded horse body weight and body condition scores annually—before, during, and after the study.

 

Results showed that horses eating unwrapped hay consumed more and had higher body weight (BW) and body condition scores (BCS). No significant differences were found in incisor length, incisor bevels, or dental abnormalities.

 

The researchers concluded that hay nets do not negatively affect dental health but can reduce hay consumption and help manage horse body weight and condition.

 

 

 

For more details, see:

 

M. DeBoer, L. Keener, J. Layeux-Parks, O. Schueller, L. Johnson, K. Martinson,

Effect of hay nets on horse bodyweight, body condition score, hay usage, and dental health in mature adult horses,

Journal of Equine Veterinary Science,(2024) Vol 136,105051

 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2024.105051

Horses smarter than previously thought, study suggests

Horses are more intelligent than previously believed, according to a new study that shows how they cleverly adapted their behaviour to maximise rewards with minimal effort.  

Researchers at Nottingham Trent University sought to understand more about equine learning processes, as this knowledge could lead to more humane training methods and improved welfare for horses. A full report of the study is published in the journal  Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 

 

The study involved twenty horses, aged 11 to 22 years, including seven females and thirteen castrated males of mixed breeds. 

 

The team devised a task where horses had to touch a piece of card with their nose to receive a treat. They then made the task more challenging. Horses would not get a treat if they touched the card while a bright white “stop” light was on but would do if they touched it while the light was off.

 

 As the task was made more challenging, the horses initially struggled, indiscriminately touching the card whether a light was on or off, though they continued to receive rewards for correct responses.

 

In the final stage, a penalty was introduced: touching the card when a “stop” light was on resulted in a ten-second timeout during which no rewards could be earned. Remarkably, the horses quickly adapted, showing a significant reduction in errors and only touching the card at the correct times to receive treats.

 

The researchers suggest that rather than misunderstanding the game, the horses may have understood it all along but found a way to play that required less attention. They suggest that their findings indicate a higher level of cognitive processing than was previously thought possible, as the horses instantly switched strategies when faced with the risk of losing rewards. 

 

This approach requires the horse to think into the future, the researchers say, and is very goal directed, with horses required to focus on what they want to achieve and the steps they need to take to do this. 

This, they argue, is something which has previously been considered beyond a horse’s cognitive capacity.

“At first we found that horses would just keep touching the card over and over, as they probably realised they would still get a frequent reward with minimal mental effort,” said lead researcher Dr Carrie Ijichi. 

She said: “There was no cost for indiscriminate hitting, sometimes it paid off, sometimes it didn’t. When we introduced a cost for their errors, however, they could instantly understand and play the game properly. 

“Horses are not natural geniuses, they are thought of as mediocre, but this study shows they’re not average and are in fact more cognitively advanced than we give them credit for. 

“We now think that horses may be able to use a form of learning called ‘model-based learning’ which was thought to be too complex for them. This will now help us to understand their behaviour and capabilities much better.

“It’s fascinating because they have a very underdeveloped pre-frontal cortex which is what we typically credit with producing that type of thinking in humans. This means they must be using another area of the brain to achieve a similar result and this teaches us that we shouldn’t make assumptions about animal intelligence or sentience based on whether they are ‘built’ just like us.”

Researcher Louise Evans, based in Nottingham Trent University’s School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, said: “We were expecting horses’ performance to improve when we introduced the time-out, but were surprised by how immediate and significant the improvement was. 

“Animals usually need several repetitions of a task to gradually acquire new knowledge, whereas our horses immediately improved when we introduced a cost for errors. This suggests that the horses knew all along what the rules of the game were.” 

For more details, see:

Louise Evans, Heather Cameron-Whytock, Carrie Ijichi,

Whoa, No-Go: Evidence consistent with model-based strategy use in horses during an inhibitory task,

Applied Animal Behaviour Science, (2024) Vol 277, 106339,

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2024.106339

Edited press release

Effect of music on response to sudden and unexpected stimuli

Photo of audio cap attached
 to head collar. (c) Eyraud et al

The living conditions imposed on horses inevitably expose them to stress-inducing situations. 

Music appears to be a promising tool for managing such stress, although its benefits may diminish with repeated exposure. 

 

A study by Camille Eyraud and colleagues aimed to determine whether music could mitigate horses' reactions to unexpected stimuli and whether playing the same music daily reduces its effectiveness.

 

The research in, published in the International Journal of Equine Science, involved three groups of 12 horses, each led along a route with potentially stressful stimuli for 10 consecutive days. Each group wore headphones and was subjected to one of three conditions: a "music" condition with the same music track played, a "noise" condition with pink noise.

 

The authors explain: “Pink noise is a random signal with constant energy in the octave bands and is therefore weighted according to the properties of the human audiogram (and, by extension, also those of horses.)”

 

“The music was played directly into the horse's outer ear using an "audio cap" (see Figure 1).  This is a traditional earcap equipped with a pair of earphones in front of the pinnae and a pocket to hold a small MP3 player between the two ears.”

 

The findings indicated that music had a calming effect on both horse behaviour and heart rate in response to visual stimuli. Interestingly, the parameters for the pink noise condition were intermediate between those of the music and no-music conditions. 

 

Regarding the potential loss of music's effectiveness with repeated exposure, the study showed that music continued to mitigate stress-related behaviours effectively for up to seven consecutive exposures, although this effect was not consistent every day.

 

In conclusion, music can enhance human-horse interactions by reducing horses' stress in unexpected situations. The study also showed that the use of music did not interfere with the horses' awareness of and response to environmental noise, which is crucial in case of real danger.

 

However, the researchers suggest that to maintain music's efficiency, it should be used sparingly to target specific, time-limited events. They question whether playing music continuously throughout the day, as is often done in stables, might be counterproductive.

 

However, the researchers suggest that to maintain music's efficiency, it should be used sparingly to target specific, time-limited events. They question whether playing music continuously throughout the day, as is often done in stables, might be counterproductive.

 

They recommend further research to understand the mechanisms behind this effect and to ensure its safe and consistent application in practical settings.

For more details, see:

 

Eyraud, C., Valenchon, M., Cairo, M., Adam, O. and Petit, O. 2024. 

Can Repeated Exposure to Music Mitigate Horses’ Reactions to Sudden and Unexpected Stimuli?. 

International Journal of Equine Science. 3, 1 (Apr. 2024), 58–65.

https://rasayely-journals.com/index.php/ijes/article/view/102