04/10/2024
IS YOUR HORSE HAPPY TO BE MOUNTED?
In recent years there has been several studies into the facial expressions of horses in relation to pain and stress. Recognising the horse’s subtle body language signals may lead to better communication between people and horses, which is essential to ensure the safety of both.
A 2022 study examined horses’ emotional state and facial expression during leading and standing next to the mounting block. Researchers from Poland assessed eleven leisure horses from 6 to 12 years old when leading and standing next to the mounting block both with and without a saddle.
Photographs were taken every 5 seconds when the horses were led and then when standing next to the mounting block.
The photographs were reviewed and each horse’s facial expression was analysed. The signals the researchers looked for were lowered ears, contraction of the upper eyelid, tensed facial muscles, tensed muzzle, strained and dilated nostrils and whether the eyelids were half-closed.
The team found no significant signs of stress when the horses were led – which suggests that saddle itself had no impact on the horses. However, the horses’ facial expression changed significantly to show clear signs of stress when they were brought to the mounting block.
These results suggest that horses may have negative associations with the mounting block. This could be caused by horses having an unpleasant experience when being mounted, anticipation of pain from pressure on an ill-fitting saddle or indeed anything associated with riding or the riding process.
Again this confirms that horse owners, riders and riding instructors need to learn about equine behaviour and body language. They also need to pay more attention to horse-friendly mounting and riding to ensure better welfare of working horses.
This study was presented at the ISES conference in 2022: Recreational Horses’ Facial Expressions Prior to Mounting: K. Olczaka, N. Łazarczykb from the National Research Institute of Animal Production, Department of Horse Breeding, Balice, Poland and University of Agriculture in Krakow.
Post by Justine Harrison - Equine Behaviourist
