Recognising the signs of stress

Every owner wants their horse to live a happy, fulfilled life and knowing how to spot signs of stress will go a long way towards helping you do just that.

Having a clear understanding of what makes your horse stressed and how he reacts when he feels under pressure will give you the right tools to help him stay calmer in his daily life. Here’s what to consider…

What is stress?

Stress can be defined as a mental or physical pressure that results in a reaction. In some cases, stress can be useful in a horse’s life to protect him from potential danger and allow him to learn and adapt to his environment. However, too much stress, such as long periods without food or company, can negatively impact a horse’s wellbeing.

Acute vs chronic

Acute stress is caused by short-term stressors – for example, a plastic bag blowing across the path in front of your horse. Chronic stress is caused by long-term factors, such being restricted to the stable or experiencing pain over a prolonged period.

Did you know?

Stress can be broken down into two elements – physiological (physical) and psychological (mental and emotional).

First responses

Horses are prey animals and have a fight or flight response towards perceived danger. As part of this response, the horse releases additional hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline. This can be useful short term – for example, making it easier to react quickly and move away from an undesirable situation – but if the stressor is continually repeated or always present, the long-term increase in these hormones can cause stress and anxiety.

Horses also have a freeze response, when they become completely immobile. The horse will often be very alert with an increased heart rate and the head and neck held high. In the wild, the freeze stance can confuse a predator into letting the horse go or, if being stalked, the predator’s kill instinct won’t be activated.

In domesticated horses, the freeze response may be seen when there are high levels of confusion or fear, such as leg pressure not being released when ridden. Often, a freeze response is followed by a reactive one, such as spinning or running from the perceived danger.

Find out more signs to look out for and how to spot stress in horses in July Horse&Rider – grab your copy of the magazine today!