Miniature horses and donkeys help lift teens’ mood

  

 For many people, spending time with horses has a calming effect. 

Animal-assisted therapy programmes often rely on this, but new research suggests that the animals are far more than passive participants. The way horses and donkeys respond to people may influence how much benefit people gain from the interaction.

Researchers at the University of California, Davis, investigated this idea in a study involving 61 adolescents and a small herd of rescued miniature horses and donkeys. Their findings, published in Scientific Reports, provide evidence for what the researchers call the "Two-Way Hypothesis" – the idea that human behaviour influences an animal's behaviour, which in turn affects the person's emotional response.

Previous studies of animal-assisted interventions have largely concentrated on the effects on people while paying relatively little attention to the animals' experiences. Lead author Rebecca Calisi Rodríguez believes this overlooks an important part of the relationship.

"You can't stand in a pasture watching a child and a donkey interact and pretend only one of them is having an experience," she said. "They're watching each other, they're responding to each other, they're both making choices."

To test the hypothesis, each teenager spent three minutes interacting with miniature horses and donkeys. Half the participants were instructed to gently stroke the animals' backs, while the remainder scratched their necks in a way that mimics the mutual grooming behaviour seen between horses. Before the interaction, the adolescents were taught to recognise two simple behavioural signals: lip wriggling, which indicates enjoyment, and walking away, which suggests the animal wants more space.

The style of handling affected how the equines responded. Neck scratching produced lip-wriggling behaviour much more frequently than gentle stroking, while animals walked away less often during scratching sessions than during petting.

All participants reported feeling calmer and less nervous, sad, lonely and excited after spending time with the animals, regardless of which handling method they used. However, differences emerged when researchers considered the animals' behaviour.

Teenagers who observed lip wriggling experienced greater reductions in feelings of loneliness. Surprisingly, those whose equine partner chose to walk away showed larger reductions in sadness.

This unexpected finding suggests that an interaction does not have to involve constant engagement from the animal to be beneficial. Instead, seeing an animal exercise choice may make the encounter feel more genuine.

"I love that this unexpected result challenges the assumption that more animal engagement is always better," said Calisi Rodríguez. "Seeing an animal exercise choice – being free to approach you, stay with you, or walk away – may make the interaction feel more authentic."

The researchers stress that the study does not show that neck scratching is always the best way to interact with horses or donkeys. Rather, it demonstrates that human behaviour influences the animal's response, and that these responses are linked with differences in people's emotional outcomes.

The work could have practical implications for animal-assisted interventions in schools, hospitals and therapeutic riding centres. Rather than focusing solely on the human participant, future programmes may benefit from paying greater attention to the animal's experience and allowing it to make choices during interactions.

As Calisi Rodríguez concluded, "If animals are going to become increasingly important partners in supporting human well-being, then understanding their well-being isn't just an ethical responsibility. Our work suggests it may actually be part of understanding how these interventions work."

Everyday management linked to horse personality

  

Credit: Océane Liehrmann, University of Turku

Why do some horses eagerly approach people while others remain wary? Why are some calm and attentive, while
others are more reactive to unfamiliar situations? Although genetics and breed play an important role, new research suggests that everyday management and the relationships horses develop with people may also be linked to their personalities.

The study, led by Dr Océane Liehrmann of the University of Turku, Finland, and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, investigated how everyday management practices are associated with personality traits in horses. The findings, published in Royal Society Open Science, highlight the possible importance of housing, handling and owner relationships for equine welfare.

The relationship between humans and horses has developed over thousands of years of domestication. Today, horses live almost entirely in environments created by people, making it important to understand how management may affect behaviour and welfare.

Like people, horses show consistent individual differences in behaviour, often referred to as personality. Previous research has shown that personality has a genetic component and can influence welfare, trainability and the quality of human-horse interactions. However, less has been known about the role of everyday management.

To investigate this, researchers analysed responses from an online questionnaire completed by 2,257 owners describing 2,767 horses from Europe, North America and other regions. Owners completed a 52-question assessment of their horse's personality and provided information about housing, riding frequency, groundwork, time spent with the horse, ownership history, relationship duration and headgear use. The researchers also accounted for factors such as the horse's age, sex and breed.

Statistical analysis identified four broad personality dimensions. “Human sociability” described a horse's tendency to seek and enjoy interaction with people. “Horse sociability” reflected how readily a horse engaged in friendly, non-aggressive interactions with other horses. “Attentiveness” referred to the horse's ability to focus on and respond to human cues, while “neuroticism” described emotional reactivity and sensitivity to stress.

As expected, age, sex and breed all influenced personality scores. For example, geldings generally scored higher than mares for both human sociability and attentiveness, while warmbloods tended to score higher for neuroticism than draft horses.

Several management factors were also associated with personality. Horses that had remained with the same owner for more than ten years tended to have higher human sociability scores than horses with newer owners. Conversely, horses that had changed owners several times generally scored lower. Spending relaxed, undemanding time with horses, such as simply being with them or grooming and scratching them, was also associated with greater human sociability.

Riding frequency was linked with two personality traits. Horses ridden regularly, between four and seven times each week, tended to score higher for attentiveness and lower for neuroticism than horses ridden less often. However, the researchers emphasise that this does not prove that frequent riding produces calmer horses. It is equally possible that naturally calmer horses are selected for more regular work.

Housing was strongly associated with horse sociability. Horses kept alone consistently scored lower than horses housed with companions, whether in pairs or larger groups. This finding may reflect reduced opportunities to express normal social behaviour, although it is also possible that horses with poorer social skills are more likely to be housed individually.

The researchers stress that the study identifies associations rather than cause-and-effect relationships. Because it examined horses at a single point in time, it cannot determine whether management influences personality, personality influences management decisions, or whether both occur together.

Nevertheless, the findings suggest that stable ownership, opportunities for social contact with other horses and positive interactions with people are all associated with differences in equine personality. Further long-term studies should help clarify how management practices and personality influence one another and whether changes in management could improve both horse welfare and human-horse relationships.

 

For more details, see:

Alisa Viitanen, Aada Ståhl, Milla K. Salonen, Océane Liehrmann;

Management practices and human–horse relationships are associated with horse personality traits. 

R. Soc. Open Sci. (2026); 13 (9): 260116.

https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.260116

New research explores different types of stereotypic behaviour

© Callipso88 Dreamstime.com

 

Stereotypic behaviours such as crib-biting, weaving and box-walking are among the most recognisable signs of compromised welfare in horses. These repetitive behaviours appear to serve no obvious purpose and are most seen in horses kept under restrictive management conditions, where opportunities for natural behaviours such as continuous grazing, free movement and social interaction are limited.

Although stereotypies are widely regarded as indicators of reduced welfare, scientists are increasingly recognising that not all stereotypic behaviours arise for the same reasons. Understanding these differences could help develop more effective management strategies for affected horses.

Stereotypies are generally divided into two broad categories. Oral stereotypies involve repetitive movements of the mouth, with crib-biting being the best-known example. Locomotor stereotypies involve repeated movement of part or all of the body, such as weaving or box-walking.

As part of her PhD research at the Centre for Comparative and Evolutionary Psychology, University of Portsmouth, Kate Lewis and colleagues investigated whether horses displaying different forms of stereotypic behaviour also differed in their responses to a potential source of social enrichment: a stable mirror.

Mirrors have previously been shown to provide some horses with the illusion of another horse being present, potentially helping to reduce stress associated with social isolation. The researchers wanted to determine whether horses exhibiting locomotor stereotypies might be more socially motivated than those showing oral stereotypies.

The study involved 16 horses: six horses that regularly box-walked, five that crib-bit, and five control horses with no stereotypic behaviour. Each horse underwent a 24-hour baseline observation period, followed by 24 hours with a large stable mirror measuring one by 1.5 metres installed in the stable. Behaviour was then monitored for a further 24 hours after the mirror was removed.

The results revealed clear differences between the groups. Horses that box-walked showed a noticeable reduction in the behaviour while the mirror was present, and this reduction persisted even after the mirror had been removed. In contrast, crib-biting behaviour was unaffected by the presence of the mirror.

The horses also differed in how much attention they paid to the mirror. Both the box-walking horses and the control horses spent more time orientated towards it than the crib-biters, suggesting that the locomotor stereotypy group may have been more interested in the apparent social companion.

However, the findings also showed that the picture is more complex than simple social attraction. Box-walking horses did not display more ear or head movements associated with affiliative social behaviour towards the mirror, nor did they show greater signs of frustration after the mirror was removed. This suggests that although mirrors appeared to reduce box-walking, the underlying reasons remain unclear.

The researchers conclude that the study provides preliminary evidence that horses displaying different stereotypies respond differently to environmental enrichment. In particular, locomotor stereotypies such as box-walking may have stronger links with social factors than oral stereotypies like crib-biting.

Because the study involved relatively small numbers of horses, the authors emphasise that larger, well-controlled studies are needed before firm conclusions can be drawn. Nevertheless, the findings add to growing evidence that stereotypic behaviours should not be viewed as a single condition, but rather as behaviours with potentially different underlying causes that may require different approaches to management and welfare improvement.

For more details, see:

Lewis, K., McBride, S. D., Parker, M. O., Faithfull, R., & Proops, L.

Differences between horses (Equus caballus) displaying oral and locomotor stereotypies in their responses to a stable mirror. 

Behavioural processes, (2026). 241, 105415.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2026.105415

What riding school horses' faces reveal about their experience

  

© Igordabari  Dreamstime.com

   

Horse owners are often taught to watch for obvious signs of discomfort, such as pinned ears, tail swishing, bucking or resistance under saddle. But what if a horse's face could reveal more subtle clues about how it is coping long before those more obvious behaviours appear?

New research from the University of Guelph suggests that tiny changes in facial expression may provide valuable insights into how lesson horses experience their work and interactions with riders.

 As part of her PhD research in Equine Exercise Physiology, Aveil Oberhammer used the Equine Facial Action Coding System (EquiFACS) to study the facial expressions of 35 riding school horses before, during and after both beginner and advanced hunter/jumper lessons. Unlike the Horse Grimace Scale, which was developed specifically to identify pain, EquiFACS is a comprehensive system that records individual facial muscle movements without assigning them an emotional meaning. Researchers can then investigate what those movements may indicate in different situations, from learning and communication to stress and welfare.

The study examined short video clips taken at five stages of a typical lesson: before tacking up, after saddling, after bridling, immediately after riding and following untacking. A certified EquiFACS observer analysed each clip, recording facial action units including eye movements, ear position, nostril shape and oral behaviours such as chewing and lip movements.

Some facial expressions are surprisingly difficult to interpret. Chewing, for example, has traditionally been viewed as a sign of relaxation, yet growing evidence suggests it may instead function as a self-soothing behaviour that helps horses regulate their emotional state. Similarly, nostril dilation may reflect physical exertion, heightened attention or anticipation depending on the circumstances.

"You need to be very observant," Oberhammer explained. "Doing it live is much harder than analysing video. Sometimes you're trying to determine whether a tiny lip movement is upwards or backwards because that changes the facial action score."

One of the study's key questions challenged a common assumption within riding schools: that beginner riders are easier for horses because the physical demands are generally lower. The findings suggest the reality is more complex.

Overall, rider ability alone had surprisingly little effect on the horses' facial expressions. However, certain groups of horses responded differently. Less experienced lesson horses, particularly those with fewer than three years in a lesson programme, were more likely to display facial movements such as nostril lifting, nostril dilation and tongue movements when working with beginner riders. Mares also showed more facial activity than geldings and exhibited more eye blinks, nostril movements and lip parting with novice riders.

These findings may reflect the additional mental effort required to interpret inconsistent rider cues. Horses constantly attempt to understand what their riders are asking, and unclear timing or conflicting signals may increase their cognitive workload.

"We know that horses learn from trial and error," said Oberhammer. "If they don't associate a certain cue with a positive outcome, they might just do nothing."

The research also highlighted how facial expressions changed throughout the lesson itself. Horses were most expressive before preparation began, showing a variety of movements around the eyes, nostrils and mouth. Overall facial activity declined after saddling and became even more subdued once bridled. Following the ride, oral behaviours such as chewing became more common again, suggesting horses may communicate differently once tack and riding pressures are removed.

The authors conclude that the greatest changes in facial expression were linked not to rider ability but to different stages of the lesson, potentially reflecting anticipation before work and recovery or relief afterwards.

As equitation science continues to reshape understanding of horse behaviour and welfare, subtle facial expressions are emerging as another valuable tool for looking "behind the bridle". While they should never be interpreted in isolation, careful observation of these quiet signals could help riders, coaches and instructors better understand how horses experience their work, refine communication and support more horse-centred training and management practices.

 

For more details, see:

Aveil Oberhammer, Caleigh Copelin, Lais Rabel, Katrina Merkies

Behind the bridle: Understanding facial expressions in lesson horses before and after riding.

Applied Animal Behaviour Science,(2026) Vol 300,106982,

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2026.106982

 

Interested in learning more about subtle behavioural cues, learning theory, and how horses communicate? Discover how the latest research in equine behaviour can help you better understand your horse and build stronger partnerships through informed, welfare-focused training.
Register for Equine Guelph’s 12-week accredited, online course Equine Behaviour, offered in partnership with School of Continuing Studies through the University of Guelph.  Go to:

https://courses.scs.uoguelph.ca/search/publicCourseSearchDetails.do?method=load&courseId=17912

 

 

Horses recognise predators by sight alone, even when they appear only on a screen

Experimental setup.  © Z. Benderlioglu CC BY 4.0

Domestic horses can distinguish between a potential predator and a harmless animal using
visual information alone, according to new research from The Ohio State University. The findings suggest that horses are capable of rapidly assessing danger without relying on sound, scent or previous experience, while also revealing that they may conceal signs of stress despite experiencing significant physiological arousal.

As prey animals, horses have evolved sophisticated mechanisms for detecting threats. Previous research has shown that they respond to predators through increased vigilance, flight behaviour and elevated stress levels. However, most studies have examined combinations of visual, auditory and olfactory cues. The latest study is among the first to isolate vision alone, demonstrating that horses can identify a predator even when it is presented as a silent video image.

The researchers studied 18 horses of varying ages and both sexes housed at The Ohio State
University Equine Center. Each horse watched a series of 20-second silent video clips projected onto a screen while wearing a heart rate monitor and being filmed for behavioural analysis.

The control footage showed grazing wombats, a species unfamiliar to the horses but posing no threat. This was followed by clips of wolves, also unfamiliar to the horses, displaying either affiliative behaviours such as grooming or aggressive interactions.

Despite the absence of sound, movement towards the horses or any scent cues, the animals reacted very differently to the two species. Heart rates remained close to baseline while the horses watched the wombats, but increased significantly whenever wolves appeared on the screen. Surprisingly, there was no difference in the horses' responses to wolves that were fighting compared with those calmly grooming one another, suggesting that the horses identified the animals themselves as potential predators rather than responding to the behaviour they were displaying.

Lead author Zeynep Benderlioglu explained that the findings indicate horses engage in rapid cognitive assessment rather than immediately entering a classic fight-or-flight response. Although their heart rates increased markedly, they showed few obvious behavioural signs of anxiety.

Unlike a startled horse that might snort, toss its head or attempt to flee, these horses largely maintained a calm outward appearance while internally experiencing heightened alertness. This disconnect has important implications for both equine welfare and rider safety, as handlers may assume a horse is relaxed when it is actually processing a potential threat.

The study also found differences between individual horses. Male horses exhibited stronger heart rate responses to the wolf videos than females, despite having similar resting heart rates. Horses occupying higher social positions within the herd also showed greater physiological responses. The researchers suggest that dominant horses may play a key role in monitoring danger because other members of the herd often rely on them when making collective decisions about safety.

Age also influenced behaviour, with older horses showing lower levels of fearfulness and social dependency than younger animals.

The team also investigated how the horses viewed the videos. Previous research has suggested horses often use their left eye when assessing threats because the right side of the brain is specialised for processing danger. However, the horses in this study showed almost no preference for left-eye viewing while watching the wolves. Instead, they displayed no clear lateralised gaze, while the harmless wombats were viewed predominantly using binocular vision, suggesting exploratory rather than defensive processing.

The researchers believe this unexpected finding highlights the complexity of equine cognition. Rather than reacting automatically, the horses appeared to evaluate the visual information before deciding that no immediate action was necessary.

Overall, the study demonstrates that horses possess a sophisticated ability to recognise unfamiliar predators using vision alone while masking their internal state. The findings provide new insight into how horses perceive potential threats and underline the importance of recognising that a horse may be experiencing significant stress even when it appears outwardly calm.

For more details, see:

Hofacker R, Sebunia N, Pihlblad J, Benderlioglu Z (2026)

Recognition of unfamiliar predators in domestic horses through only visual predator cues. PLoS One 21(7): e0349298.

 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0349298

Feral horses shape their landscapes, study finds

© Carol Hancock Dreamstime.com

  

 Across Europe, many natural landscapes are undergoing rapid change. Warmer temperatures and increased
rainfall are accelerating the growth of shrubs and trees, gradually turning open habitats into dense woodland. While this process, known as ecological succession, is natural, it can threaten species that depend on light, open environments, such as wildflowers and insects. Traditionally, land managers have controlled this by cutting back vegetation. However, new research suggests that large grazing animals like horses and cattle may offer a more natural and effective solution.

This approach, known as trophic rewilding, involves introducing free-ranging herbivores into landscapes and allowing them to shape vegetation through their natural behaviour. A recent five-year study carried out in Denmark at the Mols Laboratory has provided valuable insight into how this works in practice. Researchers from Aarhus University tracked the movements of feral horses (Equus ferus caballus) and cattle (Bos taurus) across a 120-hectare rewilding site to understand how their grazing patterns influence vegetation.

Using GPS collars fitted to the animals and satellite data measuring vegetation growth (NDVI), the researchers were able to link where the animals spent their time with how the landscape changed over several years. The results showed that both horses and cattle preferred open grassland areas over dense woodland. In these frequently used areas, grazing and trampling reduced plant biomass and slowed the growth of shrubs and trees. As a result, these patches remained open for longer, supporting species that rely on sunlight and low vegetation.

However, the animals did not use the landscape evenly. Instead, they created a patchwork of heavily grazed and lightly grazed areas. This uneven grazing pattern is important because it increases habitat diversity, leading to a more varied and resilient ecosystem. Rather than maintaining a uniform landscape, the animals’ natural choices produced a dynamic mosaic of habitats.

Interestingly, the study also found that horses and cattle are not as similar as they are often assumed to be. While both species preferred similar grazing areas during times of abundance, their behaviour diverged when food became scarce. They began to use different parts of the landscape and exploit different food sources. This difference in “functional roles” is beneficial, as it enhances the overall impact on vegetation and promotes biodiversity more effectively than a single species would.

Another key finding was the influence of human-made structures. Both horses and cattle were strongly attracted to an artificial shelter within the study area, particularly the horses. This had a noticeable effect on grazing patterns, concentrating activity in specific areas. The researchers highlighted that the placement of infrastructure such as shelters or water troughs can unintentionally shape animal movement and, therefore, vegetation patterns. This is an important consideration for future rewilding projects.

The study also examined how the system responded to extreme weather, specifically the severe European drought of 2018. Areas that were heavily grazed showed the greatest decline in vegetation during the drought but also recovered the fastest afterwards. This ability to recover, known as resilience, suggests that grazing animals may help ecosystems better withstand climate extremes. However, when the herbivore population was later reduced by around two-thirds, the landscape became generally greener, indicating that the continued presence of grazing animals is essential to maintain open habitats.

Overall, the research demonstrates that year-round grazing by horses and cattle can effectively slow vegetation succession and prevent landscapes from becoming overly dense. For horse owners and equine science students, this highlights an important ecological role for horses beyond sport and recreation. When managed appropriately, horses can act as powerful agents of environmental change, contributing to biodiversity conservation and sustainable land management.

At the same time, the study emphasises that rewilding is not about leaving animals entirely  unmanaged. Animal welfare remains a priority, with populations carefully monitored to ensure that the land can support them. This balance between natural processes and responsible management is key to the success of rewilding initiatives.

In summary, horses and cattle do more than graze; they actively shape the landscapes they inhabit. By understanding their behaviour and ecological impact, we can use them to create healthier, more diverse environments in a changing world.

For more details,see:

Kristensen, Jeppe Å., Robert Buitenwerf, Emilio Berti, Oskar L. P.Hansen, Simon D.Schowanek, Rasmus Ejrnæs, Morten D. D.Hansen, Kent Olsen, Signe Normand, and Jens-Christian Svenning.

Space-Use by Feral Cattle and Horses Shapes Vegetation Structure in a Trophic Rewilding Area.”

Ecological Applications2026: 36(1): e70170

 https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.70170

 

Do horses grieve the loss of a companion?

© AdinaMunteanu Dreamstime.com

Horses are highly social animals that form close bonds with other members of their group.
Because of this, it is reasonable to expect that the loss of a companion may affect their behaviour and emotional wellbeing. 

However, until recently, there has been surprisingly little scientific research into how hoes respond to the death of another horse. A study led by Claire Ricci-Bonot and Daniel Mills at the University of Lincoln, with MSc student Emily Wilson, alongside Stefania Uccheddu of the San Marco Veterinary Clinic and Laboratory, Padua, Italy aimed to address this gap. 

The researchers used an online survey of horse carers in the UK, collecting data on 325 horses that had experienced the loss of a companion. Information was gathered on management, the relationship between the horses, and the behavioural responses of the surviving horse both immediately after the death and over the following months. 

The results showed that most horses displayed noticeable behavioural changes within 24 hours of losing a companion. These changes were often linked to increased arousal, such as restlessness or agitation, which was reported in nearly 89% of cases. Many horses also showed altered behaviour towards other horses and humans (around 77%), increased alertness to their surroundings (73%), and more frequent vocalisation (69%). In addition, over two-thirds of horses increased their movement, while more than half reduced their feeding time and contact-seeking behaviour with humans. 

These responses suggest that horses may experience something like grief-related behaviours. In Equus ferus caballus, such changes could reflect stress, confusion, or the disruption of a social bond. Importantly, the type of relationship between the two horses influenced the severity of the response. Horses that had formed close or affectionate bonds, rather than simply coexisting, were more likely to show stronger behavioural changes. For example, they were more likely to alter their enthusiasm for social interaction or feeding, and their behaviour towards humans. 

Another key finding was the impact of witnessing the death. Horses that had seen their companion die were more likely to show immediate changes in feeding and sleeping behaviour, as well as increased vigilance and altered social responses. This suggests that awareness of the death event itself may influence how horses process the loss. Interestingly, whether the surviving horse was allowed to spend time with the body did not appear to affect behaviour in the first 24 hours. 

However, over the longer term (up to six months), differences became clear. Horses that were given the opportunity to investigate or remain with the body were less likely to show ongoing changes in vocalisation and social behaviour. In contrast, those that were not allowed this contact were more likely to remain in a heightened state of arousal and vigilance. 

This finding has important implications for horse management and welfare. Although many behavioural changes began to decrease over time, some persisted for up to six months, indicating that the effects of losing a companion can be long-lasting. The degree of impact varied between individuals, suggesting that factors such as personality, environment, and previous experiences may also play a role. 

Overall, this study provides evidence that horses may exhibit behaviours consistent with grief, although further research is needed to fully understand the emotional processes involved. These findings highlight the importance of considering the social and emotional needs of horses, particularly during times of loss. Allowing horses appropriate time and space to adjust, and recognising signs of stress or behavioural change, can help support their welfare during what may be a challenging period 

 For more details, see: 

Claire Ricci-Bonot, Emily Wilson, Stefania Uccheddu, Daniel Simon Mills, 

Grief-like distress responses in horses after the death of a conspecific. 

Applied Animal Behaviour Science (2025) Vol 292,106799, 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106799

Feeding strategies for horses with severe asthma: effects on behaviour and welfare

    

Equine asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that can be triggered or worsened by inhaling
dust, mould, or other airborne particles commonly found in conventional dry hay. Managing the diet is an essential part of treatment, as feed type can influence not only respiratory health but also time budgets and welfare-related behaviours.

Recent research has compared the effects of feeding steamed hay and alfalfa pellets on horses suffering from severe asthma, shedding light on how different low-dust diets affect feeding behaviour, lung health, and overall well-being.

In a controlled study involving nine severely asthmatic horses, Antoine Symoens  and colleagues at the University of Montreal, Canada evaluated the effects of two low-dust feeding regimes - alfalfa pellets and steamed hay - on feeding duration, activity patterns, and gastric health.

The horses were housed indoors and first fed dry hay to induce a clinical flare-up of asthma. They were then placed on either steamed hay or alfalfa pellets for four weeks, using a crossover design so that each horse experienced both diets. Their behaviour was recorded for 18–22 hours at multiple stages during the trial, and gastroscopies were performed before and after each feeding period to assess gastric ulcers.

Results showed clear differences in eating patterns between the two diets. When fed steamed hay, horses spent a consistent proportion of their day eating - about 48% - both during the first and fourth weeks of feeding. In contrast, when horses were switched to pellets, the time they spent eating dropped significantly by roughly one-third in the first week. Interestingly, horses on the pelleted diet appeared to adapt by breaking up their feeding into shorter, more frequent meals, a pattern described as “fragmented eating.” This adjustment might help maintain some degree of natural foraging behaviour despite the rapid consumption time associated with pellets.

From a welfare perspective, steamed hay appears to preserve a more natural feeding time budget. Horses in the wild spend most of their day grazing, and maintaining this prolonged eating activity is associated with better digestive health and lower risk of behavioural issues such as boredom or stereotypies. Short feeding times, as seen with pelleted diets, can disrupt this pattern, potentially leading to frustration or undesirable behaviours.

However, feeding choices must also consider respiratory benefits. Earlier findings have shown that while steamed hay is much less dusty than untreated hay, it may be less effective than alfalfa pellets at improving lung function in asthmatic horses. Therefore, while steamed hay supports more natural feeding behaviour, pellets may provide a stronger advantage for respiratory management. Importantly, the study found that neither diet had an influence on the occurrence of squamous gastric ulcers, an encouraging finding for owners concerned about ulcer risk.

In practical terms, managing an asthmatic horse’s diet involves balancing multiple factors. Replacing dusty or mouldy hay with low-dust alternatives, such as haylage, steamed hay, or suitably formulated pellets, can help reduce respiratory irritation. For overweight or laminitis-prone horses, haylage may not be ideal due to its higher energy content, making steamed hay a more moderate choice. Combining different low-dust feeds could offer the best compromise, supporting both lung health and natural feeding behaviour.

In conclusion, when feeding horses with severe asthma, steamed hay helps maintain normal feeding time and behaviour, contributing positively to welfare, whereas pelleted diets offer greater respiratory benefits but may shorten eating duration. Selecting or combining these diets thoughtfully allows owners to meet both the physiological and behavioural needs of asthmatic horses.

 

For more details, see:

Antoine Symoens, Mathilde Leclère, Valentine André, Marion Desmarchelier,

Behavioral effects of two diets used for the management of severe equine asthma,

Journal of Veterinary Behavior, (2026) Vol 84, pp34-40,

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2025.12.007

Response of horses and donkeys to fireworks in the UK

© Igor Akimov Dreamstime.com

   

Fireworks are widely used in the United Kingdom to mark celebrations such as Bonfire
Night and New Year's Eve. While these displays are enjoyable for many people, they can create significant challenges for animal welfare. Research has long shown that fireworks can cause stress and fear in companion animals such as dogs and cats, but comparatively little attention has been given to their effects on equids. 

A study by Stephanie Gerow and colleagues at the University of Lincoln aimed to address this gap by investigating how fireworks affect horses and donkeys in the UK.

The researchers conducted an anonymous online survey of equid owners aged 18 and over. In total, 1,234 horse owners and 232 donkey owners participated. The survey explored three main areas: how horses and donkeys respond to fireworks, what strategies owners use to reduce their impact, and owners’ opinions about firework use.

Horses are prey animals with a strong instinct for flight when faced with sudden or threatening stimuli. Loud, unpredictable noises such as fireworks can therefore trigger intense fear responses. Owners commonly reported behaviours such as running, kicking, bucking, and rearing. These reactions can be dangerous because frightened horses may attempt to escape from fields or stables, sometimes trying to jump fences or climb over stable doors. In severe cases, horses may injure themselves, other horses, or nearby people. Escaping horses can also pose a serious risk to road users if they enter nearby roads.

In the survey, eight percent of horse owners reported that their horse had suffered an injury associated with fireworks. Importantly, these injuries were usually indirect. They were caused by the horse’s reaction to the noise and lights rather than the fireworks themselves. Tragically, incidents involving fireworks have occasionally resulted in the death of horses after they panic and attempt to escape their environment.

Donkeys, in contrast, appeared to show fewer extreme responses according to owner reports. Only one donkey injury was reported in the survey. Researchers suggested that this difference may be related to the behavioural strategies used by the two species. Horses often respond to fear with a “flight or fight” reaction, which involves rapid movement and increases the risk of injury. Donkeys, however, may be more likely to adopt a “freeze” response when faced with a frightening stimulus. This behaviour may reduce the likelihood of injury, although it does not necessarily mean that donkeys experience less fear.

The survey also found that the type of horse may influence perceived reactions to fireworks. Horses used for hunting or competitive sport were generally reported to be less fearful than other horses. This may reflect differences in training, handling, or regular exposure to noisy environments.

Owners reported using a range of strategies to reduce the effects of fireworks on their animals. Common approaches included stabling horses during firework displays, remaining with the animal to provide reassurance, moving the animal to a different location away from fireworks, and playing music to mask sudden noises. Many owners also emphasised the importance of keeping animals in secure, well-lit environments with minimal hazards that could cause injury if the animal becomes frightened.

Although owners often considered these strategies effective, they are not always able to prevent stress or injury completely. Many of these measures also rely on advance warning of fireworks, which is not always available when displays are organised privately.

Most respondents (77%) supported tighter regulations on fireworks, particularly restrictions on when they can be used and reductions in their maximum noise levels. Overall, the findings highlight fireworks as a potential welfare concern for horses and, to a lesser extent, donkeys. Understanding how equids respond to loud and unpredictable stimuli is therefore an important part of equine management and welfare.

 

For more details, see:

 

Gerow SL, Clegg SR, Cooke AS.

Horse and donkey owners' perspectives on fireworks and their impact on equids in the UK.

Anim Welf. (2026) 35:e11.

https://doi.org/10.1017/awf.2026.10068

Identifying pain in horses faces

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Research led by scientists at Anglia Ruskin University, including its specialist land-based
campus ARU Writtle, has provided new insight into how well humans can recognise pain in horses. The study, published in the academic journal Anthrozoös, highlights important welfare implications and helps explain why recognising equine discomfort can be challenging, particularly for people new to working with horses.

Horses are widely used by humans for sport, leisure, and work. Because they are prey animals, horses have evolved to mask signs of pain or weakness to avoid attracting predators. While this survival strategy helps them in the wild, it can make it harder for humans to detect when a horse is suffering, which may delay treatment and negatively affect welfare.

The research team, which also included collaborators from Bournemouth University and University of São Paulo, investigated how accurately people can recognise pain by studying facial expressions. A total of 100 participants were recruited, including 30 individuals with experience caring for horses and 70 with little or no horse-care experience. Participants were shown 60 photographs: 30 of human faces and 30 of horse faces. They were asked to rate them for signs of pain, emotional intensity (arousal), and whether the expression appeared positive or negative (valence). To provide a benchmark for accuracy, 10 equine behaviour professionals also evaluated the horse images.

The results showed that people were generally better at recognising pain in human faces than in horse faces. However, participants with horse-care experience were significantly more accurate at identifying pain in horses compared to those without experience. The study also found that the number of years spent working with horses improved accuracy, suggesting that recognising equine facial expressions is a skill that develops through observation and practice.

Experienced participants were more likely to recognise subtle indicators of pain, such as changes in ear position, the angle of the eyes, and increased muscle tension around the face. These indicators form part of recognised equine pain assessment methods and are essential for early identification of discomfort.

The research also explored how human psychological traits affect the ability to recognise pain. Participants completed assessments measuring empathy and social anxiety. Interestingly, empathy levels did not appear to influence pain recognition accuracy for either humans or horses. However, social anxiety produced more complex results. People with higher social anxiety were better at recognising pain in human faces but not in horse faces. In fact, these individuals tended to overestimate pain in horses, suggesting that human emotional processing may sometimes interfere with interpreting equine body language.

According to lead researcher Nicola J. Gregory, the study provides the first scientific evidence that humans often struggle to identify pain in horses, but experience significantly improves this ability. Meanwhile, equine behaviour specialist Rosa Verwijs emphasised that horses’ natural tendency to hide pain means problems may only become noticeable when behaviour escalates, which can increase risks to both horse welfare and human safety.

Overall, the findings highlight the importance of education and practical training for anyone working with horses. Improving knowledge of equine facial expressions and behavioural indicators of pain could help owners and professionals identify problems earlier, seek veterinary treatment more quickly, and ultimately improve the welfare of horses in human care.

 

For more detail, see:

Gregory, N. J., Trimmer, M., Dempsey, T., Verwijs, R., Lencioni, G. C., & Moseley, R. L. (2026).

Reading Pain in Horse and Human Faces: The Influence of Horse Experience, Social Anxiety, and Empathy. Anthrozoös, (2026) 39(1), 161–178. https://doi.org/10.1080/08927936.2025.2551433