Bonding with a Horse - Heart Rate

Have you ever felt a special bond with your horse? Have you ever wondered if your horse feels the same way about you? If so, you might be interested in learning more about the science behind horse-human heart coupling.

What is horse-human heart coupling?

Horse-human heart coupling is a term that refers to the synchronization of horse and human heart rates and heart rate variability (HRV) in response to emotional stimuli. HRV is a measure of the changes in the intervals between consecutive heart beats, and it can indicate the level of physiological arousal due to exertion or psychological arousal due to anxiety. Heart coupling can be used to investigate the degree of emotional connection and communication between horses and humans, as well as the influence of human emotions on horse behavior and welfare.

How is horse-human heart coupling measured?

Researchers use wearable devices and advanced algorithms to monitor the cardiac parameters of horses and humans in various situations, such as handling, riding, grooming, or interacting freely. They then analyze the data to see if there is any correlation or alignment between the heart rates and HRV of the two species. They also look for any changes in the heart coupling depending on the context, the individual characteristics of the horse and human, and the quality of their relationship.

What are some findings of horse-human heart coupling research?

Several studies have explored the phenomenon of horse-human heart coupling and have found some interesting results. Here are some examples:

- A study by Keeling et al. ¹ found that the heart rates of both handlers and riders decreased on each successive pass in an unfamiliar arena, but rose significantly on the final pass, when they were told that researchers would momentarily be opening an umbrella (although no umbrella was actually opened). Interestingly, their horses (presumably not aware of the umbrella threat) also experienced this same rise in heart rate, suggesting that they sensed their human's anxiety and became similarly aroused.

- A study by Merkies et al. ² measured the heart rates of humans and horses when horses were free to interact with a blindfolded human participant with a normal, elevated due to exercise, or elevated due to fear heart rate. Horses actually had lower heart rates and slower and calmer behaviors in the presence of an aroused person than they did in the presence of a calm person. These findings may offer some insight as to why horses seem to be such responsive therapists for equine facilitated therapy programs.

- A study by von Lewinski et al. ³ investigated the heart coupling in high-performance riders and their advanced dressage horses at a public performance and an identical dress rehearsal without spectators. Researchers expected that both horses and riders would be influenced by the performance atmosphere and that their physiological responses would be closely correlated. However, whereas riders' stress responses rose significantly from the private to the public performance, their horses' responses did not.

What are the implications of horse-human heart coupling?

Horse-human heart coupling can help us improve our horsemanship skills and our horse's welfare by being more aware of our own emotions and how they may influence our horse's behavior and well-being. By learning to regulate our own arousal and anxiety, we can create a more positive and harmonious relationship with our equine partners. Additionally, horse-human heart coupling research can provide scientific evidence for the benefits of equine assisted therapy and other activities that involve human-horse interactions. This bond can be remarkable when coping with our own anxiety and therapeautic for the soul!

If you are interested in trying out these exercises and bonding with a horse please contact us and come visit us at the Silver Spur Stables!

(1) Heart Coupling: What is it? The Science of Bonding - Horse Sport. https://horsesport.com/magazine/lifestyle/horse-human-heart-coupling/.

(2) Scientists Study Horse, Human Heart Coupling – The Horse. https://thehorse.com/136859/scientists-study-horse-human-heart-coupling/.

(3) 10 Things That Make Horse & Human Relationships So Unique. https://agapepetservices.com/make-horse-human-relationships-unique/.