PB
841 posts
Jul 02, 2009
1:57 PM
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Horses React to Human Heart Rates, Study Finds
by: Nancy Zacks
July 01 2009, Article # 14464
An increase in a human's heart rate affects the heart rate of the horse they are leading or riding, researchers at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences recently reported.
Linda Keeling, PhD, and colleagues tested horses and riders to see if humans inadvertently communicate fear and anxiety to horses. Using heart rate as a fear indicator, the researchers asked 20 people with varying levels of horse experience to walk and ride 10 horses from Point A to Point B four times. The researchers told participants an umbrella would open as they rode or led the horse on the fourth pass. The umbrella never opened, but heart rates in both horses and humans increased during the fourth trip between the points, when the human expected the umbrella to open.
"The increase in the horses' heart rates probably means that they are more alert and prepared to react to any potential danger," Keeling said. "In the wild, horses are adapted to respond to other animals in their group. A startle reaction is more likely when the horse is very alert."
If you are a nervous person leading or riding a horse, your nervousness might increase the likelihood of the "spook" that you are anxious to avoid.
The study, "Investigating horse-human interactions: the effect of a nervous human," was published in the July 2009 issue of The Veterinary Journal. The abstract is available on PubMed.
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Lois08
96 posts
Jul 02, 2009
2:04 PM
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PB, I think that is true, but how in the heck to calm yourself. I have found that taking a big breath and just saying breath slowly helps me to relax some. I know that when I get anxious my horse does too, but I havn't given up yet. Lois
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FLYINGMANE
170 posts
Jul 02, 2009
2:22 PM
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I read that too.
I did not need a *study* to tell me that! I know it is so true! but like Lois said how to calm yourself down? Maybe I should get drunk and go up there, and if I fall will not feel a thing!!! ha ha! just a joke!
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SnickersMom
269 posts
Jul 02, 2009
2:34 PM
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Ha, ha Flyingmane.....maybe I shouldn't admit to this but when my anxiety and fear first developed several years ago I would have some peach brandy before a trail ride. It really did help calm the nerves.
Snickersmom :)
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ktrox
7 posts
Jul 02, 2009
3:44 PM
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I sing silly songs like "The Bear Went Over the Mountain". Or I substitute my horses name in the song I am singing. It makes me laugh, and I feel more relaxed. It has become a habit for me when I am leading or grooming her. Overall, laughing at myself seems to be a way that I can relieve tension in myself and for my horse.
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FLYINGMANE
171 posts
Jul 02, 2009
5:16 PM
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Hey SnickersMom,
I heard that a guy got a ticket for riding his horse drunk from the bar!!! the horse new where he was going the guy replied to the police!
And Peach Brandy! you got class My Lady! I should try it! haha!
There we go! poeple will wonder about the french woman!...
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LC
220 posts
Jul 03, 2009
3:25 AM
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I sometimes wonder if its something they can visibly see?
When I was at a VERY low ebb with Zack, I used to go to the field to get him in, - stomach churning, heart pounding and some days he would take one look at me (from a few hundred yards away) and start tearing around and panicking - which in turn used to make me feel even worse.
At least once or twice I decided I couldn't do it and asked someone else to go and get him in for me and he would take a look at them (also from a distance) and calm down and just stand and wait to come in and walk in like a little lamb - I'd have been dragged and barged every inch of the way!
Bye for now
Megan
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cckiger
164 posts
Jul 03, 2009
1:04 PM
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I think body language has a lot to do with it, but more than that I think they sense energy.
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Poeta
486 posts
Jul 03, 2009
1:58 PM
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I agree with it being the energy that they sense. I also believe what we visualize they see. It is the same energy we feel with a loved one/spouse/child that allows us to know when they are angry, happy, sad, hurt, sick, etc.
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dog-shrink
489 posts
Jul 04, 2009
5:05 AM
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There have been other studies too in which they have measured the heart rates of horses and owners standing together and then got the person to run round the block. They remeasured the rates and the horses' came up. They really do react to our energy.
So this means we need to keep our heart rate and breathing steady. The horse cannot read our mind only our bodies. If we can slow them down, it won't matter if in our heads we are panicking. Easier said than done.
One solution is to ride the "couldn't care if you're nervous" horse to get our confidence. Not all horses tune in to our bodies. Some have been there, done that and had so many different riders that they don't care.
Otherwise we need to try to attempt tasks which are not too difficult. If our heart rate is soaring, maybe it's too hard and we should step back a bit.
Diaphragmatic breathing and singing helps and so do the Bach remedies (I think!)
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Bitless - not witless!
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trina24
22 posts
Jul 04, 2009
10:07 AM
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So does yoga!!
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horseinaround
188 posts
Jul 05, 2009
10:01 AM
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My herd feeds off of my energy. When I want them to be calm all I need do is relax and wait. They will gather around me and stand for scratches and snuggles. When I am rushed, hurried and don't have time to do anything other than feed and clean, they generally walk away and do their own thing. The more relaxed I am in the saddle the more they blow out, lower their heads and walk in gentle rhythm. If I get nervous, their heads come up and they step faster and higher. Yes, they do feed off our energy and that of other horses. Spending time with them shows us that.
Last Edited on 5-Jul-2009 10:02 AM
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