How Can You Tell if a Horse is Stressed?

• Blinking Patterns: Stressed horses tend to blink less frequently and may show irregular eyelid contractions.
• Research by Professor Katrina Merkies: This finding was based on a study at the University of Guelph, observing horses under mild stress.
• Easy Monitoring: Horse owners can monitor their horses’ stress levels by noting changes in blinking behavior.

Horses can cover up stress

When we train horses, we teach them to suppress their stress response because we do not want the horses to react when they are tense or nervous. Even though they have learned to hide their reactions, it does not mean they feel less stressed.

– In humans, we know that the way we blink changes when we are under pressure. Some studies show that we blink more when anxious, while others show that we blink less. We wanted to see if the way horses blink also changed when stressed, says Professor Katrina Merkies, an Animal Biosciences professor from the University of Guelph.
– Look at the horse’s eyes and how the eyelid contracts: the horse will blink less and close the eyelid differently when under stress.

An uncomplicated stress monitor

Stress can be measured through a heart monitor or blood tests, but Merkies and her colleagues wanted to find an uncomplicated method everyone involved with horses could use. Therefore, they decided to see if the horse’s eyes could provide the answer.
They observed 33 horses of different breeds from various riding schools. All the horses were subjected to three different mildly stressful experiences. First, the horses were presented with a ball thrown right in front of them to scare them a little. In the next experiment, the horse was separated from its herd, so it could not see the other horses. Last but not least, the horse’s food was withheld for three minutes at feeding time while the other horses in the herd were fed.

Researchers filmed horses to observe stress

The researchers filmed the horses to observe changes in movement in the eyes and ears and signs of general restlessness. They found that withholding food was the most stressful thing for the horses, while the exercise with the ball and separation from other horses elicited very little response.
– It is important to remember that riding school horses are used to being a little frightened or surprised every day and are separated from the other horses daily. Food, on the other hand, means a lot to horses, and withholding food was a wholly new and surprising experience, and that may be why they were stressed, she said.

Horses blinked less when stressed

When the researchers evaluated the videos of the horses’ eyes when food was withheld, they found that the horses blinked less but that they contracted the eyelid a bit in jerks. On average, the horses blinked five times a minute when stressed, compared to 8-9 times a minute when they were relaxed. When food was withheld, and the horses were under the most pressure, the contractions of the eyelid increased from two times per minute to up to six times per minute. During the other tests, there was no difference in how often the horse contracted the eyelid.
The researchers hope these findings will give horse owners and trainers a tool to perceive the horse’s mood and feelings. It is not a method that tells us everything, but it is a tool we can put in our toolbox and use to understand our horses better.

Researchers from the University of Turku in Finland have launched a questionnaire survey, led by French researcher Océane Liehrmann, to understand the deeper layers of interaction between humans and horses. Liehrmann, with a background in biology specializing in animal behavior, emphasizes the importance of examining how our interactions with horses affect their welfare and daily behavior. The researchers aim to gain a deeper understanding of the influence humans have on horses’ welfare and behavior.

Horses have been humans’ faithful companions, workforce, and partners in sports for centuries. However, it is only recently that science has begun to focus on the depth and complexity of our relationship with horses. Liehrmann’s work represents part of this increased research, seeking to understand the animals on their own terms.

“Horses are thinking and feeling animals that require understanding and respect. They are not just a tool or a sports performer; they are living beings with their own needs and desires,” Liehrmann states. Her words capture the essence of the current paradigm shift in animal welfare, where the need for a holistic approach to horsekeeping is increasingly recognized.

Liehrmann’s research focuses on a crucial aspect of horse welfare, the way we stable our horses. Traditionally, horses have been stabled in individual boxes, a system that limits their natural urge to move freely and interact socially. “We must redefine what it means to give horses a ‘good life’. They need space to unfold and the opportunity to form relationships with their fellow species,” Liehrmann explains, emphasizing the importance of meeting the basic social needs of horses.

By completing the questionnaire, which takes about 40 minutes, horse owners and caretakers make an invaluable contribution to science. “Every response is a puzzle piece that helps us form a more holistic picture of the horse’s quality of life,” says Liehrmann. Participants are asked to reflect on their behavior and the way they interact with their horses, as well as provide details about their horses’ personalities and living conditions.

The results of the survey will have far-reaching implications. “With a better understanding of horse-human relations, we can not only improve horse welfare on an individual level but also raise standards for horsekeeping worldwide,” Liehrmann points out. Her enthusiasm for the project is contagious, and it’s clear she sees this work as bridging the gap between science and practice.

Liehrmann’s own experiences from her doctoral studies, where she worked closely with horse owners, have given her a deep understanding of the many different environments horses can live in. “Whether it’s in training, competition, or leisure, each environment has its own unique impact on the horse,” she says. This view is central to her research and the questionnaire she has developed.

Liehrmann also emphasizes the importance of long-term relationships between horses and their owners or the people they interact with daily. “Our data shows that horses that have had stable and ongoing contact with a specific person are less frightened when faced with new situations. This indicates a possible advantage of long-term bonds, which can have a calming effect on the horse,” she explains.
To contribute to this research, you can follow the link to the survey investigating the human-animal relationship, and participate by filling out the questionnaire. Your insights and experiences are invaluable and can help shape a future where the horse’s welfare is paramount.

Here you can watch an interview with Oceane Lierhmann, explaining the background for her studies animals,

Shahzadi Daisha has a heart of gold, she is always the first to come and greet you, a caring and loving horse. Here are some images of her throughout her life time…

But let’s not forget, that even if many Arabian horse owners think that it is the most beautiful horse in the world, the Arabian is so versatile, and what makes an Arabian even more outstanding than its beauty is the versatility, the health, the soundness and the sweet temperament. 

The legendary Arabian

There has always been something magical about a black Arabian horse.

Fly without wings, slay your enemies without sword. The Arabian horse was a gift from God, form Allah who created the horse in his image. The Arabian horse originated in the desert for the Bedouins, and for thousands of years the Bedouins have been breeding this most exquisite of all breeds. The Arabian horse was the pride of the Bedouins, and a must for their survival. The harsh realities of the desert, the burning sun, the cold knights, the lack of water and food has formed the Arabian horse that we know today, independent, and intelligent. Grass was spares, and horses had to survive on milk from the camels, dates, and grasshoppers. Life could be brutal, and only the fittest horses survived. 

The versatile Arabian horse

The Arabian horse is a partner with no comparison, everyone who owns an Arabian can confirm that this beautiful creature has enriched their lives in way no one imagined. If you understand your Arabian, and treat it with care and respect, the horse’s sensible way of being will bring you comfort and hope in the darkest hour. 

The Arabian horse of today is used in many sports. It is used in both dressage and jumping, and many admire the flowing movements of the Arabian. The Arabian horse has an exceptional stamina, and this is one of the many traits that makes the Arabian excel in endurance riding. The Arabian is surefooted, with good movements and strong legs, and it´s intelligence makes it an ideal partner if you are to cross a challenging terrain. 

The Arabian Influence

The Arabian horse has had a marked influence on many other breeds. Welsh ponies, thoroughbreds and many heavy horses have been refined and improved by the grace of the Arabian horse. 

An undeniable trait of the Arabian horse is the dish on the forehead, the Djibbah, and the large expressive eyes, and the long and slender neck. The back of an Arabian horse is shorter and has less vertebrae than any other horse, and the tail is set higher and carried with at lift, adding to the graceful movements of the black Arabian horse. The body is fined, but filled with muscles under the skin. The coat is short and shimmering, and the mane is long, soft and shines in the sunlight.

Every horse has the right to life, no matter the breed, their age and their faults. We believe that every horse that can be healed should receive healing, and every horse that can be treated, should receive treatment. If we hear of a horse that needs a good home, we will do our best to find a new family and a home for adoption. We will only euthanize as a last resort, if a horse suffers from a serious incurable disease or if the horse is in chronic pain, and only in consultation with at qualified vet. The end-of-life decision is an act of mercy, rather than a question of convenience or lack of room or time.

Far too many horses have suffered from imperfections, caused by humans. They have been misunderstood, mistreated, or perhaps the owner is no longer able to care for their horse, through no fault of the horse itself. We believe that every horse should live a good life, and it is not reasonable to put it down, just because it can no longer be “used” on our terms. Every horse is a living being with the right to life, and it needs other horses more than it needs us. Horses thrive without having to be used by humans, and many can live a good herd life and fulfil its purpose by being a member of a herd. This is why it is always possible to find a new family and a new herd of horses. There are many possibilities to be together with your horse, even if it is no longer used for riding. You can do groundwork, agility, or just play, and the horse can have many more years to live in. 

Through education, and through our network we will strive to find an individual solution for each and every one of our horses. 

In most studs, the period between February and June has one item on the agenda: Breeding 

With the modern advancement of fertility technology, young mares can be inseminated with fine stallions from around the world. The benefits are obvious for the horse owner. The precious horses don’t need to be transported, there’s nor risk in that the mare kicks the stallion, and most famous stallions can sire hundreds of foals during his lifetime. Because of embryo transfer, even a mare can be the mother of several foals during the season, whilst still competing in the sport on a high level. There is no need just to use the local stallion, but you can choose a stallion from anywhere in the world. 

It is simple and efficient for the humans, but is it that good for the stallion and the mare involved? Would they look at the procedure with the same positive outlook as we do? Most likely not. 

The stallions who work as donors are deprived of any form of natural contact with the mare, and many of them never even get to live with other horses, but spend their life isolated in a box or a small paddock. The mare also needs physical contact, and she has no way of knowing what is happening when she is inseminated, let alone if she is due for embryo transfer, which has been compared to an abortion/miscarriage. Humans who experience a miscarriage often experience trauma and sadness of losing a child. Horses are sentient beings with senses and feelings just like we have. Some studs have stopped the practice of embryo transfer, as they saw the negative impact it had on their mares. 

Stallions rarely get to live a natural life as the herd member they have been for thousands of years. Most are stabled in single boxes with no possibility of physical contact with other horses. This is perhaps to avoid fights or injury from other horses, but it comes at a cost for the welfare of the stallion.

At Aaleyah Black Arabians, our black stallion Aj Rafiq comes from Ajman stud in the United Arab Emirates. His sire was the legendary Vervaldee and his dam was Lumiar Rosalita a grey mare. He was bred for his conformation, and his good looks, and the black colour was just an added bonus. He is one of the few lucky stallions, to be able to live the life he was meant to live. He came to us when he was six months old, and he grew up with older mares who taught him how to behave towards the ladies. Now 8 years later, he has sired many beautiful foals. He is not only the biological sire, but he has also played a role in the upbringing of the foals. We often see that the foals often turn to their dad to play and to receive security and comfort. 

It is an amazing sight to experience a black Arabian stallion together with his mares and foals are galloping across the field with the head high and the tail lifted in the classical Arabian way.  

The time the Arabian has been a domestic animal is very short compared to how long the horse has lived in the wild. The horse has been developed through millions of years. Those who were best to adapt their behavior survived, and passed on their genes to their offspring. The domestic horse’s behavior is much like the behavior of a wild horse, and we must take that into account when working with our horses. 

It is a big responsibility to look after Arabian horses, and every country has their own welfare laws. It takes knowledge to take care of a horse, and this knowledge is at least as important as learning to ride. The skills it takes to handle a horse from the ground, can be transferred to when you ride or drive your horse, and you got to understand and communicate with your horse. The horse will try to understand your signals, and if something is not working, the best way to solve it is to look for the solution within your own communication, and not blame it on the horse. This is why it is important to constantly seek more knowledge and education, so you can become a better rider, and better to look after your horses needs. Always keep in mind that everything you do is for the horses best. 

Interactions between people and horses have been fascinating and engaging for millions of people around the world. It is a fantastic feeling when the cooperation goes smoothly and everything is working well. It this interaction is not happening on equal terms, with respect for the horse, it is a whole other story. In modern times, humans use horses exclusively for pleasure, and it puts extra demands for the way we handle our horses, how we educate ourselves, and treat them with love and respect. 

Horse welfare