Learning to Recognize Stress in Your Horse

Stress is something most humans have to deal with, and often it comes up more than we would like. Be it a job interview, an exam, an argument with a loved one, or a health problem, stress makes life unpleasant and difficult. Because of this, most of us try very hard to limit the things that stress us out. We try to avoid sticky situations or people who will make us nervous, and we do our best to find enough time to relax and be around people we enjoy.

Just like humans, horses can experience stress as well, and for anyone who has struggled with stress in their life, we all know how difficult this can be. It is the same for a horse. A horse who is experiencing a lot of stress will not perform well and may be susceptible to health problems that would otherwise not be a problem.

Pasture time can help alleviate stress

Learning to identify stress in a horse is the first step to fighting stress in a horse. It is important to identify what is causing the stress and to remove that stress inducing thing but this cannot be done if you have not first realized that your horse is stressed.

The physical symptoms of stress, especially in more extreme cases, can include raised heart rate, fast and shallow breathing, raised blood pressure, and eventually even a rise in core body temperature. These are all responses to something that is making the horse nervous. It could be that a new horse has moved in, or even something as simple as a change in activity or routine in the barn. The horse’s body begins to release chemicals that would prepare the horse for having to run or fight.

While stress in the very short term is not terribly harmful, long term stress can considerably weaken an animal and threaten its well being. Needless to say, it is far more preferable to attempt to avoid stress in the first place.

You may notice your horse acting strange and agitated. The horse may begin chewing on things or stamping or even acting nervous or aggressive towards other animals or humans. When you recognize these signs, take a look around to see what might be making your horse upset. It could be that the horse will overcome its stress on its own but it is always good to try to limit the stress if you can find out where it is coming from. Even small changes in a horse’s routine can cause undue stress to such an animal.