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Frontiers in veterinary science2020; 7; 582759; doi: 10.3389/fvets.2020.582759

Inside the Interaction: Contact With Familiar Humans Modulates Heart Rate Variability in Horses.

Abstract: A human-animal relationship can be developed through subsequent interactions, affected by the positive or negative emotional valence of the proceeding one. Horses implement a process of categorization to classify humans with whom they interact as positive, negative, or neutral stimuli by evaluating the kind of approach and the nature of the contact. In these terms, human-animal interactions are emotionally charged events, eliciting specific emotional states in both subjects involved. Although the human-horse relationship has been mainly investigated through behavioral analysis, physiological indicators are needed for a more objective assessment of the emotional responses. Heart rate variability (HRV) is a commonly used autonomic nervous system (ANS) correlate estimating the sympathovagal balance as a psychophysiological marker of emotion regulation in horses. We have assumed that long-term positive relationships with humans may have a positive and immediate impact on the emotional arousal of the horse, detectable, ANS activity, during the interaction. We analyzed horses' heartbeat dynamics during their interaction with either familiar or unfamiliar handlers, applying a standardized experimental protocol consisting of three different conditions shifting from the absence of interaction to physical contact. The ANS signals were monitored through an innovative non-invasive wearable system, not interfering with the unconscious emotional response of the animal. We demonstrated that horses appeared to feel more relaxed while physically interacting (e.g., grooming on the right side) with some familiar handlers compared to the same task performed by someone unfamiliar. The shift of the sympathovagal balance toward a vagal predominance suggests that the horses experienced a decrease in stress response as a function not only of the handler's familiarity but also of the type of interaction they are experiencing. These results constitute the objective evidence of horses' capacity to individually recognize a familiar person, adding the crucial role of familiarity with the handler as a paramount component of human-animal interaction. Our rigorous methodological approach may provide a significant contribution to various fields such as animal welfare while further investigating the emotional side of the human-animal relationships.
Copyright © 2020 Scopa, Greco, Contalbrigo, Fratini, Lanatà, Scilingo and Baragli.
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Publication Date: 2020-11-30 PubMed ID: 33330706PubMed Central: PMC7734029DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.582759Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

The research explored how interaction with familiar and unfamiliar humans affects the heart rate variability (HRV) of horses, with results indicating that horses feel more relaxed with people they’re familiar with.

Research Objective

  • The main goal of the research was to examine how relationships between horses and humans affect the emotional response of the animals. This was evaluated using their heart rate variability (HRV), which estimates the balance between two parts of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), thereby indicating emotional regulation in horses.

Methodology

  • A standardized experimental protocol was used, featuring three different situations ranging from no interaction to physical contact. They compared how horses reacted to interaction with familiar and unfamiliar handlers.
  • An innovative non-invasive wearable system was employed to monitor the autonomic nervous signals of horses. This ensured that the emotional response of the animals was not influenced by the monitoring process.

Findings

  • Horses showed a more relaxed state when interacting physically (example used was grooming on the right side) with familiar handlers versus unfamiliar ones.
  • The shift in the balance between the two parts of the ANS towards the vagal section indicates a decrease in the stress response of horses. This was dependent not only on the familiarity of the handler but also on the type of interaction experienced.

Significance of the Research

  • The results provide objective evidence supporting the ability of horses to recognize familiar humans, thereby emphasizing the importance of handler familiarity in human-animal interactions.
  • Due to its rigorous methodology, the research contributes significantly to various fields including animal welfare. It provides a method for further investigation into the emotional aspects of human-animal relationships.

Cite This Article

APA
(2020). Inside the Interaction: Contact With Familiar Humans Modulates Heart Rate Variability in Horses. Front Vet Sci, 7, 582759. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.582759

Publication

Frontiers in veterinary science
ISSN: 2297-1769
NlmUniqueID: 101666658
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 7
Pages: 582759
PII: 582759

Researcher Affiliations

Conflict of Interest Statement

AG, AL, and ES are founding partners of the company Feel-Ing S.r.l. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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This article has been cited 13 times.
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