Equine

Inside the interaction: Contact with familiar humans modulates heart rate variability in horses

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...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Scopa, C., Greco, A., Contalbrigo, L. et al. 2020. Inside the interaction: Contact with familiar humans modulates heart rate variability in horses. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 7, 582759.

Blink rate as a measure of stress and attention in the domestic horse (Equus caballus)

Measuring animal stress is fundamentally important for assessing animal emotional state and welfare. Conventional methods of quantifying stress (cortisol levels, heart rate/heart rate variability) require specialist equipment and are not instantly available. Spontaneous blink rate (SBR) has previously been used...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Mott, R. O., Hawthorne, S. J., McBride, S. D. 2020. Blink rate as a measure of stress and attention in the domestic horse (Equus caballus). Scientific Reports 10(1), 21409.

Quantifying the cumulative impact of use in teaching and research: An initial assessment of an objective tool developed to safeguard working horse welfare in a university setting

Universities offering veterinary and equine science education typically keep horses to support teaching and research activities. The Australian Code requires approval of horse use by an independent Animal Ethics Committee and that cumulative use over an individual’s working lifetime is...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Skyner, L., Wassens, S., Dennis, A. et al. 2025. Quantifying the cumulative impact of use in teaching and research: An initial assessment of an objective tool developed to safeguard working horse welfare in a university setting. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 80, 39–48.

Grief-like distress responses in horses after the death of a conspecific

As a social species, it would be anticipated that horses may display altered behaviours toward dying or dead conspecifics. However, there is remarkably little literature on this subject. The aim of this study was to identify behavioural changes in horses...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Emotion, Pain, & SentienceAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Ricci-Bonot, C., Wilson, E., Uccheddu, S. et al. 2025. Grief-like distress responses in horses after the death of a conspecific. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 292, 106799.

Straight from the horse’s mouth: Changes in salivary oxytocin, cortisol and behaviour in horses interacting with unfamiliar humans

Human-horse interactions can have positive outcomes for humans, but not much is known about their effects on horses. As horses are increasingly used for equine-assisted interactions and many horses interact with unfamiliar humans on a daily basis, there is a...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Kapteijn, C. M., Vinke, C. M., van Lith, H. et al. 2025. Straight from the horse’s mouth: Changes in salivary oxytocin, cortisol and behaviour in horses interacting with unfamiliar humans. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 292, 106826.

Review of depressive-like behaviours in some group-living mammals

Thanks to animal models of depression, we are getting closer to understand the nature of this disorder in humans – but depressive disorders may not be specific only to humans. Although due to the inability to collect a verbal report...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Emotion, Pain, & SentienceAnimal Type: Baboon, Capuchin, Chimpanzee, Equine, Gibbon, Lemur, Macaque, Marine Mammal, Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate, Other Animal, Other Nonhuman Primate, Owl Monkey, Squirrel Monkey, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Ilmer, I., Smoleń, T. 2025. Review of depressive-like behaviours in some group-living mammals. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 292, 106753.

The challenge of identifying positive emotional indicators in equids: A scoping review to evaluate if this approach is putting the cart before the horse (Equus caballus)

Driven by multiple converging factors, highlighting the negative impact of equestrian sports on equine welfare, recent scientific research has focussed on recognising positive states in horses (Equus caballus). In particular, this has yielded an increasing number of studies prioritising the...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Humphreys, S., Freire, R., Waran, N. et al. 2025. The challenge of identifying positive emotional indicators in equids: A scoping review to evaluate if this approach is putting the cart before the horse (Equus caballus). Applied Animal Behaviour Science 292, 106760.

Importance of the social environment for reproductive and general welfare of domestic horse (Equus caballus) stallions

The obligation to ensure the welfare of domestic horses is evident. Social bonds are an essential part of the daily life of feral horses. In human-controlled conditions, stallions usually live alone in a barren environment of individual boxes or paddocks...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Górecka-Bruzda, A., Aurich, C. 2025. Importance of the social environment for reproductive and general welfare of domestic horse (Equus caballus) stallions. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 292, 106827.

The ability to interpret affective states in horses’ body language is associated with experience with animals

In light of an increasing interest in the human ability to read equine emotions, Braun et al. (2024) recently showed that horse-experienced individuals performed better in interpreting affective states in horses’ body language than horse-inexperienced individuals. Further, individuals with a...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Human-Animal Interaction, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Braun, M. N., Bülow, S., Müller-Klein, A. et al. 2025. The ability to interpret affective states in horses’ body language is associated with experience with animals. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 290, 106716.

Impact of sequential administration of detomidine, butorphanol, and midazolam on sedation, ataxia, stimulus response, and bispectral index in horses

Background Standing sedation is a safe and cost-effective alternative to general anesthesia in horses, but challenges include achieving adequate drug effect to block the stimulus response without inducing ataxia or recumbency. A benefit of midazolam has been reported in equine...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Anesthesia & SedationAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Thorn, C. A., Wilson, D. V., Wang, S. et al. 2025. Impact of sequential administration of detomidine, butorphanol, and midazolam on sedation, ataxia, stimulus response, and bispectral index in horses. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 12.