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Do Horses Respond Emotionally to Positive or Negative Whinnies?

March 15, 2018
Posted by Christa Lesté-Lasserre, MA

While the horses recognize positive from negative emotions in whinnies, they might not become positively or negatively emotional as a result.

Topics: Article, Behavior, Behavior & Handling, Horse Industry News, Horsemanship Science, Welfare and Industry

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Do Horses Respond Emotionally to Positive or Negative Whinnies?

While the horses recognize positive from negative emotions in whinnies, they might not become positively or negatively emotional as a result. | Photo: Thinkstock

Two years ago, scientists found that horses recognize the difference between positive and negative emotions in whinnies—if those whinnies come from horses they know. The team even suggested that those whinnies might influence the emotions of the horses that hear them.

With more detailed analyses, though, the researchers now say that “contagion” effect might not be happening, at least within the context in which they were tested. While the horses do clearly recognize positive from negative emotions, they might not become positively or negatively emotional, as a result.

“Our preliminary analyses showed more arousal-related indicators during playbacks of negative whinnies from familiar horses compared to positive whinnies from those horses,” said Elodie Briefer, PhD, of the ETH Zürich Institute of Agricultural Sciences, in Switzerland.

“Our latest analyses still validate the difference in responses between positive and negative whinnies from familiar horses, but not the resulting behaviors of the listeners.”

In fact, the listeners’ behaviors were somewhat difficult to interpret, the researchers said. For example, when horses heard a positive whinny (from a familiar source), they surprisingly held their heads higher for a longer period (indicating negative emotions) than when the whinny was negative; moved their heads more (indicating higher arousal); responded faster (indicating higher arousal); and had lower respiration rates (indicating lower arousal), Briefer said

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Written by:

Christa Lesté-Lasserre, MA

Passionate about horses and science from the time she was riding her first Shetland Pony in Texas, Christa Lesté-Lasserre writes about scientific research that contributes to a better understanding of all equids. After undergrad studies in science, journalism, and literature, she received a master’s degree in creative writing. Now based in France, she aims to present the most fascinating aspect of equine science: the story it creates. Follow Lesté-Lasserre on Twitter @christalestelas.