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Scientific reports2021; 11(1); 8862; doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-88319-z

Social buffering in horses is influenced by context but not by the familiarity and habituation of a companion.

Abstract: Social buffering occurs when the presence of one animal attenuates another's stress response during a stressful event and/or helps the subject to recover more quickly after a stressful event. Inconsistent previous results might reflect previously unrecognised contextual influences, such as the nature of the stimulus presented or social factors. We addressed these issues in a two-part study of horses paired with familiar (16 subjects) or unfamiliar (16 subjects) companions. Each subject performed 4 tests in a counterbalanced order: novel object test (static ball)-alone or with companion; and umbrella opening test-alone or with companion. Social buffering was significantly influenced by the nature of the stimulus presented, but not by companion's habituation status or familiarity. Importantly, the stimulus used produced differential effects on behavioural and physiological measures of buffering. A companion significantly reduced behavioural response (reactivity) in the novel object test but not in the umbrella test. However, heart rate recovered more quickly for subjects with a companion in the umbrella test but not in the novel object test. We propose that circumstances which permit greater contextual processing may facilitate demonstration of behavioural effects of social buffering, whereas buffering in response to startling events may be manifest only during post-event physiological recovery.
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Publication Date: 2021-04-23 PubMed ID: 33893366PubMed Central: PMC8065151DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-88319-zGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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 paper studied how the presence of a companion horse can calm a horse undergoing stress. It concluded that the effect, known as “social buffering,” is affected by the type of stressor, but not by the other horse’s familiarity or habituation status.

Context

  • The phenomenon addressed in the research is “social buffering,” where the presence of another animal can reduce the stress response or expedite recovery after exposure to a stressful stimulus. This has been found in numerous species and is being explored in horses within this study. This is pertinent as understanding how to manage stress in horses can have implications for their wellbeing.
  • The research was instigated due to inconsistencies in prior studies. This hinted at possible unknown contextual factors, such as the type of stimulus or social elements that affect the impact of social buffering.

Methodology

  • The researchers analyzed this phenomenon via a two-part study involving horses. The teams consisted of familiar and unfamiliar pairs of horses, involving 16 subjects in each grouping.
  • Each horse was exposed to two types of stress tests, either alone or with a companion. These tests were an interaction with a novel object (a static ball) and the opening of an umbrella – both were designed to provoke stress responses.

Findings

  • The findings reveal that social buffering in horses did not depend on familiarization or habituation status of the companion horse. Instead, it was primarily influenced by the nature of the stimulus presented.
  • The type of stimulus used displayed differing effects on behavior and physiological measures of social buffering. In the novel object test, a companion significantly lowered the behavioral response (reactivity) but this was not the same for the umbrella test.
  • Interesting to note, heart rate recovered at a quicker pace for subjects that had a companion during the umbrella test, though the same did not hold true for the novel object test.

Conclusion

  • The paper concludes that allowing for additional contextual processing can boost evidence of behavioral impacts of social buffering. Furthermore, its effects on distress related to startling events might only reveal themselves in speed of post-event physiological recovery.

Cite This Article

APA
Ricci-Bonot C, Romero T, Nicol C, Mills D. (2021). Social buffering in horses is influenced by context but not by the familiarity and habituation of a companion. Sci Rep, 11(1), 8862. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-88319-z

Publication

Scientific reports
ISSN: 2045-2322
NlmUniqueID: 101563288
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 11
Issue: 1
Pages: 8862
PII: 8862

Researcher Affiliations

Ricci-Bonot, Claire
  • Animal Behaviour, Cognition and Welfare Group, School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Lincolnshire, LN6 7TS, UK. cRicciBonot@lincoln.ac.uk.
Romero, Teresa
  • Animal Behaviour, Cognition and Welfare Group, School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Lincolnshire, LN6 7TS, UK.
Nicol, Christine
  • Animal Behaviour, Cognition and Welfare Group, School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Lincolnshire, LN6 7TS, UK.
  • The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane North Mymms Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, UK.
Mills, Daniel
  • Animal Behaviour, Cognition and Welfare Group, School of Life Sciences, University of Lincoln, Lincolnshire, LN6 7TS, UK.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Fear / physiology
  • Heart Rate / physiology
  • Horses / physiology
  • Horses / psychology
  • Social Behavior
  • Stress, Psychological

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

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Citations

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