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Equine veterinary journal2007; 40(1); 46-50; doi: 10.2746/042516408X245171

Effects of a calm companion on fear reactions in naive test horses.

Abstract: In fear-eliciting situations, horses tend to show flight reactions that can be dangerous for both horse and man. Finding appropriate methods for reducing fearfulness in horses has important practical implications. Objective: To investigate whether the presence of a calm companion horse influences fear reactions in naive subject horses. Objective: The presence of a habituated (calm) companion horse in a fear-eliciting situation can reduce fear reactions in naive subject horses, compared to subject horses with a nonhabituated companion (control). Methods: Minimally handled (n = 36), 2-year-old stallions were used, 18 as subjects and 18 as companions. Companion horses (n = 9) were habituated to an otherwise frightening, standardised test stimulus (calm companions), whereas the rest (n = 9) of the companion horses remained nonhabituated (control companions). During the test, unique pairs of companion and subject horses were exposed to the test stimulus while heart rate and behavioural responses were registered. Subsequently, subject horses were exposed to the stimulus on their own (post test). Results: Subject horses, paired with a calm companion horse, showed less fear-related behaviour and lower heart rate responses compared to subject horses with control companions. Results from the post test suggest that the difference between treatment groups remained in the subsequent absence of companion horses. Conclusions: It appears possible to reduce fear reactions in young, naive horses by allowing them to interact with a calm companion horse in fear-eliciting situations.
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Publication Date: 2007-12-18 PubMed ID: 18083659DOI: 10.2746/042516408X245171Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study examines whether the presence of a calm horse can alleviate fear responses in inexperienced horses during frightening situations. The findings suggest that having a calm horse alongside a fearful one can indeed reduce fearful behaviors and lower heart rates, with these effects continuing even in the absence of the calm companion.

Study Objective

  • The main purpose of this research was to assess how the presence of a calm, or ‘habituated’, horse might influence fear reactions in inexperienced, or ‘naive’, horses when they are subjected to a situation that induces fear.

Methodology

  • To conduct the study, the researchers used a total of 36 young stallions that had been minimally handled. These horses were split equally into subjects and companions.
  • Of the companion horses, half were acclimatized to a standardized test stimulus designed to provoke fear, hence referred to as ‘calm companions’. The remaining companion horses were not acclimatized, therefore known as ‘control companions’.
  • Unique pairs of a subject horse and companion horse were exposed to the fear-inducing stimulus while the researchers observed their behavior and monitored their heart rates.
  • After the paired testing, subject horses were individually exposed to the fear-inducing stimulus.

Findings

  • The researchers discovered that subject horses paired with a calm companion showed less fear-related behavior and had lower heart rates than those paired with control companions.
  • Findings from the individual exposure test phase suggested that the calming effect provided by the calm companion horses continued to be present even when the calm companion was no longer present.

Conclusion

  • Based on the study findings, the researchers concluded that it is possible to reduce fear reactions in young, inexperienced horses when they are exposed to fear-inducing situations by allowing them to interact with a calm companion horse. This may have important implications for training and handling horses, potentially reducing the risk of fear-based accidents.

Cite This Article

APA
Christensen JW, Malmkvist J, Nielsen BL, Keeling LJ. (2007). Effects of a calm companion on fear reactions in naive test horses. Equine Vet J, 40(1), 46-50. https://doi.org/10.2746/042516408X245171

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 0425-1644
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 40
Issue: 1
Pages: 46-50

Researcher Affiliations

Christensen, J W
  • Department of Animal Health, Welfare and Nutrition, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Aarhus, Tjele, Denmark.
Malmkvist, J
    Nielsen, B L
      Keeling, L J

        MeSH Terms

        • Animals
        • Behavior, Animal / physiology
        • Fear
        • Heart Rate / physiology
        • Horses / psychology
        • Male
        • Random Allocation
        • Safety
        • Social Behavior
        • Time Factors

        Citations

        This article has been cited 12 times.
        1. Janicka W, Wilk I, Próchniak T. Does social motivation mitigate fear caused by a sudden sound in horses?. Anim Cogn 2023 Sep;26(5):1649-1660.
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        4. Allen CRB, Croft DP, Brent LJN. Reduced older male presence linked to increased rates of aggression to non-conspecific targets in male elephants. Proc Biol Sci 2021 Dec 22;288(1965):20211374.
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          doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-80833-wpubmed: 33446827google scholar: lookup
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          doi: 10.3389/fvets.2020.573309pubmed: 33195566google scholar: lookup
        10. Mendonça T, Bienboire-Frosini C, Menuge F, Leclercq J, Lafont-Lecuelle C, Arroub S, Pageat P. The Impact of Equine-Assisted Therapy on Equine Behavioral and Physiological Responses. Animals (Basel) 2019 Jul 1;9(7).
          doi: 10.3390/ani9070409pubmed: 31266217google scholar: lookup
        11. Rørvang MV, Christensen JW, Ladewig J, McLean A. Social Learning in Horses-Fact or Fiction?. Front Vet Sci 2018;5:212.
          doi: 10.3389/fvets.2018.00212pubmed: 30238009google scholar: lookup
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          doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0164017pubmed: 27732647google scholar: lookup
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