Self Directed - A Review of the Human–Horse Relationship
- Serena Toovey
- Jun 15, 2020
- 8 min read
Despite a long history of human–horse relationship, horse-related incidents and accidents do occur amongst professional and non professional horse handlers. Recent studies show that their occurrence depend more on the frequency and amount of interactions with horses than on the level of competency, suggesting a strong need for specific research and training of individuals working with horses. In the present study, we review the current scientific knowledge on human–horse relationships. We distinguish here short occasional interactions with familiar or unfamiliar horses (e.g. veterinary inspection) and long-term bonds (e.g. horse–owner).
An important aspect of the horse–human relationship is to try and improve the development and maintenance of a strong positive relationship. Studies show that deficits in the management conditions (housing, feeding, possibilities for social contact, and training methods) may lead to relational problems between horses and humans. Different methods have been used to assess and improve the human–horse relation, especially at the young age. They reveal that the time and type of contact all play a role, while recent studies suggest that the use of familiarized social models might be a great help through social facilitation.
Human–horse relationship has a long and varied history. While meat may have been the first motivation in the very early stages for domestication, horses became progressively important “tools” for transportation and, like other domestic animals, they are currently more and more used as companion animals (Digard, 1999). Contrarily to many other domestic ungulates, which are mostly kept for breeding, meat production, milk production or wool production, horses “rapidly” acquired a mixed status: source of food for some, for leisure and sport for others, or, less frequently, an agricultural working companion in rural areas (Edenburg, 1999). Recently, another use of horses has gained a lot of attention. Horses and horseback riding is getting very popular in therapeutic riding programs (Anderson et al., 1999).
When approaching, humans display postures, may produce vocal signals and may or may not focus their attention on the animal by gazing at the focal animal. The famous case of Clever Hans has revealed how a horse is able to detect and use subtle visual information displayed by a person (Pfungst cited in Waring, 2003).
Positioning, i.e. the relative angle and distance from one organism to another organism, has been suggested to be important in cattle (Grandin, 1980, Grandin and Deesing, 1998) but up to now, no scientific publication is available on horses. It is highly probable however that an inappropriate position (e.g. approaching closely from behind) may be responsible for some of the accidents recorded (Exadaktylos et al., 2002). We know that horses do show lateralized responses to stimuli (direction of gaze towards novel objects) which suggests that the side of approach may have an influence (Larose et al., 2006).
Emotional cues may be carried by humans through different channels: voice (prosody), posture, expression and pheromones. The only single study performed on emotional cues shows that when people have negative feelings towards animals, while stroking a horse, they induce an increase of heart rate in the animal in the first few minutes. “Neutral” or “positive” persons do not have such an influence (Hama et al., 1996).Chamove et al. (2002), who performed a study on the effect of human attitude on horse behaviour with one single horse, suggested that human attitude correlates with the behaviour of the horse when led through a predefined course. Similarly,Morgan et al. (2000)suggest that the rider's personality correlates with behaviour patterns of the ridden horse.
Finally, the way the horse is handled may induce different types of reactions. Restraint in its different facets (twitch, hobble, chute, bit with a chain, etc.) is often used in order to avoid flight or aggression but application of a twitch reveals to be one of the important sources of accidents for equine veterinarians (Pasquet, 2004). Additionally, a forced contact, early in life, may also induce reluctance for human contact in foals at later stages (Henry et al., 2006b).
In a recent review, Mills and Mc Nicholas (2005) surveyed the present knowledge on how humans consider their horse. Early reports mention that the majority of riders consider their horse to be part of the family, but that the relationship with horses also depends on society (e.g. Anglo-American versus French society where horses are more readily eaten). Moreover, unlike other pet animals, horses are often not kept on a life long scale as they may be sold when not “usable” or “suitable” anymore. However, even in high level competition, the relationship is considered as involving an emotional bond (Wipper, 2000). In all cases, grief is observed when a horse is lost through euthanasia (Brackenridge and Shoemaker, 1996a, Brackenridge and Shoemaker, 1996b, Brackenridge and Shoemaker, 1996c). Little is still known though on how the reciprocal bond builds and what each partner put into the relationship. It is highly probable that the way owners or caretakers “view” their horses has an important influence on the way they manage and handle them, as has been demonstrated for other domestic animals (Lensink et al., 2001).
Although it is commonly known that the horse–rider relationship is of major importance in both competition as well as recreational horseback riding, there is surprisingly little proper scientific literature on the determinants of this relationship and the consequences of a mismatch between rider and horse. An above average performance is dependent on effective cooperation between the rider and the horse. The rider not only needs to be in control of his own body and mind but equally prepared to deal with the different facets of the horse's character. The ability to remain calm and focused, yet alert and positive at all times throughout riding in order to communicate effectively with his/her horse becomes one of the fundamental skills any rider must master (Meyers et al., 1999). Horse back riding is one of the most dangerous recreational sports (e.g. Ueeck et al., 2004) with more accidents per hour happening than, for example during motor cycling (Chitnavis et al., 1996). In the USA it has been estimated that horseback riding accounts for 2300 hospital admissions each year with an overall injury rate of 0.6 per 100 hours of riding (Christey et al., 1994). Keeling et al. (1999) concluded that the relationship that exists between horse and its rider was also an important factor when determining the risk of injury while riding. Approximately one quarter of all horse-related accidents was due to the horse being frightened and miscommunication between horse and rider (Keeling et al., 1999).
The horse–rider relationship encompasses many facets that at different levels also have an effect on the performance of the combination and on the welfare of both horse and rider. It is likely that the number of different horse characters is as a large as the number of rider's personalities and hence there it is very reasonable that only a proportion of possible combinations of personalities result in optimal matches between horse and rider. Not every horse can jump 1.60 fences. The rider for example influences the horse and its performance by its riding style, encompassing seat, position, riding attitude and riding aids. A correct seat makes it possible for the rider to influence the horse in an efficient way and results in minimal interference and disturbance of the natural movements of the horse. The type of work and/or riding style is suggested to effect the general state of welfare of the horse. Normando et al. (2002) for example suggested that horses ridden in the western style developed less stereotypic behaviour compared to horses ridden in the English style. Differences in the occurrence of stereotypies according to the type of work have also been found by Mc Greevy et al. (1995) and Hausberger et al. (1996, submitted). In the study of Hausberger et al. (1996, submitted) more stereotypies were found in horses used for dressage than for showjumping or eventing… even when all other factors (breed, food, housing, …) were kept identical. An increase of stereotypies in two year old thoroughbreds is also suggested to be related to the onset of training (Mills et al., 2002). In addition, Hausberger et al. (2004a,b) and Lansade (in preparation) found that show horses had higher emotional reactions in experimental tests compared to leisure horses. The type of work, independently of genetic selection, appeared as a major factor in determining the personality of horses in Hausberger et al. (2004a,b) study. Differences were particularly observed in a handling test where horses had to cross a “bridge”. Dressage horses showed higher emotional reactions to these tests. The remaining question is thus whether the type of work during riding affects the rest of the human–horse relation. In any case, the question whether riding affects welfare is crucial (Ödberg and Bouissou, 1999). Christie et al. (2006) report an increase of weaving with the time spent working. Bad welfare or increased emotional state can certainly lead to undesirable reactions of horses when ridden.
For many reasons thus, it seems important and urgent that this specific part of the human–horse relationship is scientifically addressed both for finding out precisely where the horse–rider relationship fails and for identifying better practices to improve better performances and to decrease welfare problems.
I aim to capture this relationship with my photography.
Becky and Nelson
Grace and Glaudo
Kate and Henry
Evie, Sophie and Tarryn
Saffron and Betty
Anna and Teddy
Martina and Tilly
Evie and Blue
I was really touched recently to hear on the news about a lady who was dying in hospital and one of her last wishes was to see her beloved horse before she passed away. Happily, this wish was in fact granted by the hospital, and (as I’m sure you can imagine) the resultant images were really moving (you can read more about the story here https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/nov/07/sheila-marsh-horse-reunion-goodbye-hours-before-she-dies).
Anyone who has ever had a close bond with a horse would have automatically related to those images, particularly the love and affection that was so clearly visible between the horses and the sick elderly lady. It got me thinking about just how amazing that bond between horse and human really is.
Throughout history, horses have carried us through war, they have transported our cargo (and us!) have been a status symbol for the wealthy and have entertained us along the way too.
And why would they do this? After all, if an animal weighing some 1,200lbs that not only allows you to sit on its back, but is actually prepared to work with you because it wants to work with you, that is indicative of a pretty special relationship indeed. Let’s face it, should a horse choose not to cooperate with you, well, there is not a lot that you can do about it!
Watching successful partnerships in the competition arena further magnifies the special bond, based on an unspoken trust and confidence, which both horse and rider have with each other. As any rider will tell you, it can take months, if not years, to build these essential relationship ingredients.
Horses have also been used in therapy with much success, chiefly to help people with behavioural and mental issues to overcome difficulties, and they have even been used in corporate team building days to highlight just how important leadership skills are and how communication and teamwork can reach a successful outcome.
As riders, we too can relate to these areas. The soothing effect which horses can have on your mood is unparalleled; even after a bad day at the office, time spent with a horse always gives you the opportunity to ‘forget about all of your troubles’, even for just a short while. Training a horse also takes patience and understanding, which teaches valuable lessons in creating positive relationships based on mutual respect and hard work.
So all in all, it’s not “just a horse”; it’s a meaningful relationship between equestrian and equine, and it’s really something quite wonderful.
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