The Science Behind How Horses Read Human Emotions

You’ve had a long, stressful day, and you walk into the stable. You don’t say a word, but your horse lifts its head, ears are pricked forward, and you can feel its eyes almost scanning your face. The horse steps closer and nudges you a bit and you feel like it’s asking you what’s wrong. Can it really feel your emotions? Is it trying to comfort you? 

Science says yes. And it’s not just reacting to random cues, horses can actually read human emotions by looking at your facial expressions, listening to the tone of your voice, and observing your body language. According to studies, they can notice a difference between happiness and anger and even recognize emotions from photographs. Their heart rate syncs with ours and they respond to how we feel without us even knowing it. Aren’t they remarkable? 

Let’s get deeper into what’s behind this. 

How Horses Read/Understand Human Emotions

For those who don’t already know, it often comes as a shock once they realize how good horses are at sensing people’s emotions. Tey have an astute ability to pick up on even the smallest changes in facial expressions, body language, and even your tone of voice.

Their vision gives them an (almost) 360-degree view, meaning that even though you think you aren’t, if a horse is around, you’re likely being observed. On top of all of that, their hearing is so advanced that you wouldn’t believe. The way they can spot changes in the ways people speak just expands their overall ability to read and understand emotions. 

And if you’re one to think that all of this is a bunch of mumbo-jumbo, then you’ll be pleased that it’s actually heavily researched and backed by science. 

There have been several studies on this and the one from the University of Sussex is probably most widely known. Basically, the study showed that horses can tell the difference between happy and angry faces. When researchers showed them pictures of angry expressions, horses exhibited a left-gaze bias. This is how they respond to negative stimuli. On top of this, their heart rates went up, which is caused by stress. 

Another study showed that horses remember human emotions over time. They were shown photographs of people with angry or happy expressions and when the people from the photographs interacted with horses later on in a neutral state, the animals reacted based on what they saw in the photos. 

Tone of voice matters, too. Horses respond much better to calm, steady voices with no harsh or loud tones. Research has even shown that horses can match a person’s tone of voice to their facial expression. This means that they don’t just react to one thing – they’re able to piece everything together to understand an emotion. Horses don’t just guess how we feel, they actively read and remember it. 

How to Create an Environment That Supports Horses’ Emotional Sensitivity

Just like you, horses are affected by their environment, and that means both the stable and the stalls. If their stable is safe, calm, and well-structured, they’ll be comfortable, relaxed, and in tune with everything around them. Including you. Everything matters

Here’s how to make sure your horses feel their best. 

1. Stable Design

The stable is their home, so it should be well-maintained, spacious, with plenty of light. If the stable is dark, crowded, and/or stuffy, they’ll be unhappy and nervous. An open space with lots of fresh air is ideal because it will make them feel relaxed, happy, and safe. 

Noise is another factor to think about because horses are very sensitive to it. Loud, sudden sounds are a big no-no and they’ll stress them out. 

2. Routine and Predictability

If they know what to expect, horses will feel safe. They love routine, so stick to a schedule for everything – feeding, exercise, even human interaction. If you keep changing feeding times or if training sessions get unpredictable, horses will be stressed and uneasy. Even small habits, like greeting them the same way each day, can make them feel better. 

3. Reducing Stress in the Stable

Overcrowding and sudden changes can make horses very nervous. If you place the stable close to a busy road or noisy machinery, they’ll be under constant stress. The worst part of this is that the stress might not always be obvious, so you might not even know they’re unhappy. Horses want a quiet space without disruptions.

Also, make sure they have their privacy and a space to be when they want to rest. Too many horses in one stable is never a good idea, and you’ll also want to add a few horse stalls so that each animal has a space for themselves. 

Conclusion

If you’ve ever been around horses for more than a second it’s super easy to see that they’re majestic creatures able to read emotions and just how intuitive they really are. If there’s to be a picture next to the word “majestic” in the dictionary, it’ll most probably be a picture of a horse. Another word that you’d easily picture next to a horse is “noble”. And there’s really no reason to explain why – you get it.

Secure and stable environments can connect you and your horses on a level deeper than you’d ever have imagined. They can’t speak, of course, but they do understand you just fine without you (or them) ever saying a single word.

Image by wendy CORNIQUET from Pixabay