It is not uncommon for the heart rates of a loving couple or a parent and child to sync up during intimate moments. Researchers at the Italian University of Pisa Department of Veterinary Sciences designed an experiment to see if this phenomenon also occurs between humans and equines. The preliminary study - which will serve as a spring board for further research - consisted of eleven humans and one mare.
The human participants were asked to interact with the mare as follows:
- In Part 1: The human sat still in a chair in a stall next to the horse's stall.
- Part 2: The human continued to sit still in the chair, but the horse entered the stall with the human and could explore the human through sniffing and touching.
- During Part 3: the human groomed the horse.
The researchers used high-tech wearable monitoring systems and advanced algorithms to collect and tabulate their data. Specifically, the heart rate and heart rate variability (the slight changes in heart rate from beat to beat) of the horse and each human participant during their interactions.
They found that the mare and the humans tended to “couple” their heart rate variability - which is a strong indicator of emotional status - during Part 2 where the horse first made contact. Surprisingly, the coupling broke down during grooming in Part 3, with the HRV becoming more differentiated between horse and human.
Study author, Paolo Baragli, DVM, PhD explained his theory for this variation between phases:
“In Part 2 the horse is free to move and can decide by himself to approach the human or not. In Part 3 the horse is ‘forced’ to the contact with the human. The opportunity to have choice is one of the new frontiers of animal well-being and, in that way, our very preliminary results seem to confirm that giving the animals the opportunity to have a choice meets their emotional requirements."
Baragli feels that if future studies confirm the team's early findings,
“That would mean that both autonomic nervous systems of horse and human can be influenced reciprocally. This could be a sign of an emotional transfer between horse and human. But at this point we cannot exclude other and less relevant reasons, like chance.”
According to Baragli, the study "could be relevant in the assisted intervention with horses but even in the day-to-day relationship for leisure and sport.”
Do you think you have an emotional connection with your horse? Let us know in the comments below?
Looking for ways to strengthen your bond with your horse? Check out our article on 6 ways to improve your bond with your horse here!
H/T to TheHorse.com
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Kate C.
I %100 have an emotional relationship with my boy, Swede, a rather large red roan quarter horse gelding. When I met him the first time I was curious as him, so I went out to the pasture he was in and sat in the grass and waited for him to come check me out. It was the budding of a wonderful relationship. He knows me very well, and he is a big tease. He has been able to show me love, empathy, and compassion. When I received the news that my good friend of three years finally passed due to cancer, I collapsed in the arena right next to the mounting block. I cried silently for a good 30 minutes. My boy Swede is not as touchy as other horses. He is rather reserved and shy. So usually he keeps his distance when I have him alone in the arena. Not that time. He came up to me and rested his head in my lap, closed his eyes, and breathed deep. His silent words were enough to soothe me. He was trying to tell me "Everything is going to be okay". He stood patiently, waited, nuzzled me, and eventually laid down in front of me to rest his head across my lap. I have never had a more powerful experience with horses in my entire life. My eyes were opened, because I understood that he knew me better than I thought he did. I am so grateful for my friend, and his love he has given me. We are best buds and I and with him till the end of the line. Yes we still have the occasional quirkyness we have to work through, but he has taught me so much about myself, and keeps me confident every day.
Kelli
Ted is my first horse and we found each other when I was 46 years old. I’ve always been drawn to horses but had no idea what was in store for me when I met this horse named Ted. When I arrive to the barn Ted comes running with joy. He nickers and tosses his head and will commonly buck around until he gets to the gate to greet me. Then he melts into me, breathing me in and moves his lips around grabbing my clothing and his eyes change into a sweet slant. I make it a practice to not put my agenda on him. I give him the choice each time to join me for a ride or activities. If he doesn’t come running I will go in there and lay on the ground. It gives me a chance to ground myself literally. He eventually makes his way over and we cuddle and hang out. Sometimes that what we both need. Yes with 100 percent certainty there’s an emotional connection. I call it a time warp. Three hours with him feels like I have only been with him 1 hour!