Study: Do horses have emotions
Do horses have emotions? Your horse understands you – for many horse lovers, that are out of the question. But there is even scientific evidence to prove this: Horses can compare people’s voices and facial expressions to recognize their feelings.
Is my rider angry or happy? Is a person in a good or bad mood? Apparently, horses can decipher these feelings. At least, that’s what one study suggests.
The scientists showed the horses that took part in the experiment pictures of angry or happy human faces to do this. At the same time, the horses heard recordings of praise or ranting. In some situations, the sound recordings matched the images shown; in others, they did not.
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Photo: unsplash.com/Kate Hliznitsova (symbol photo)
Such a setup is also used to study the mental development of young children.
In the horses’ case, it turned out that the animals reacted in surprise twice as quickly if the photo and voice did not match. The researchers conclude that horses can match people’s facial expressions and pitch to understand people’s feelings.
The mutual understanding of the feelings strengthens the bond between horse and rider.
“Our study could help understand how humans and animals send and receive emotional signals to deepen their bond. Animal welfare benefits from a stronger connection with people, ”explains Dr. Ayaka Takimoto from Hokkaido University in Japan.
The next time you scold your horse – or praise it – be aware that your horse is likely to know exactly what is happening.