Horses experience stress just like humans do, and long-term exposure to this can impact their health, well-being and performance. As horse owners it is our responsibility to recognise the signs of stress to help ensure their mental and physical health is managed. In this blog we will be exploring the tell-tale signs of stress in horses, and how to manage it effectively.
Why Horses Experience Stress
Horses are prey animals with a fight-or-flight response, and are wired to react to perceived threats. This makes them particularly sensitive to stressors in their environment. Common causes of stress in horses include:
- Environmental changes: new stables or unknown surroundings, even a change in routine can cause stress.
- Social isolation: horses are herd animals, so isolation can often cause them extreme anxiety.
- Intensive training or competitions: physical demands and high-pressure situations can negatively impact horses, particularly if they are not used to this environment.
- Dietary changes: a poor or inconsistent diet can cause both physical and mental stress in horses.
- Health issues: pain, discomfort and illness can all contribute to horses being stressed.
Physical Signs of Stress in Horses
Spotting physical signs of stress requires careful attention to detail as often horses don’t clearly showcase their symptoms. Physical symptoms are often the first indicator:
1. Weight loss or poor condition - stress often affects a horse’s appetite, leading to weight loss. You may notice their coat becoming a bit dull, indicating their system isn’t absorbing nutrients properly. They may also have a weakened immune system, making them more susceptible to infections.
2. Excessive sweating or panting - stress-related sweating often happens when a horse is not undertaking physical exercise. They may also show laboured breathing or panting, which is a sign their body is experiencing anxiety or discomfort.
3. Tense or rigid muscles - when a horse becomes stressed you will often notice their muscles become quite tight, particularly around the back and neck areas. Prolonged muscle stiffness can lead to soreness and ultimately affect both performance and movement.
4. Gastrointestinal issues - stress in horses often manifests itself within the digestive system. Diarrhoea, colic and loss of appetite are common symptoms, along with ulcers. Digestive upset in horses should always be treated quickly as it can lead to more severe health issues.
Behavioural Signs of Stress in Horses
As well as displaying physical symptoms, horses may also show behaviour changes such as:
1. Increased vocalisation - an anxious horse is more likely to display increased whinnying or neighing, particularly when facing new situations. This can often be accompanied by nervous body language such as head tossing.
2. Aggression or withdrawal - a stressed horse may become aggressive and start biting, kicking or charging around. Some horses are completely the opposite and become withdrawn, displaying a complete lack of interest in social interaction with humans or other horses.
3. Pawing, pacing or weaving - repetitive behaviours such as pawing at the ground, pacing back and forth, or weaving, are common signs of stress. These behaviours are signs that a horse is feeling stressed, anxious or frustrated.
4. Flared nostrils and wild eyes - facial expressions are a good indicator of how a horse is feeling. Flared nostrils and wide eyes, usually accompanied by an intense stare, indicate anxiety. This type of behaviour often indicates they are alert to perceived threats in their surroundings.
Managing & Reducing Stress
Once the signs of stress have been recognised, the next step is to address them - often involving a change of routine, care and the environment too.
- Maintain a consistent routine
Horses thrive on routine, so it is important to keep feeding, turnout and exercise schedules as consistent as possible to provide them with a sense of stability and therefore reduce anxiety. Minor changes are obviously sometimes unavoidable, but maintaining a predictable schedule can help reduce stress.
- Ensure regular social interaction
If possible, allow horses time to interact with each other. As they are herd animals, they benefit from social bonds and companionship, which can really help to reduce stress. That is why when horses are isolated they often become quite anxious.
- Provide enrichment activities
If horses are bored they often start displaying unwanted behaviours. By giving them interactive feeding toys or sensory activities in their stable, this can help reduce boredom-related stress (especially for horses on box rest).
Recognising and addressing stress in horses is a huge part of daily horse care. By knowing the physical and behavioural signs, we can understand their needs and make adjustments as necessary.