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Horses Smell Your Fear: New Study Reveals Shocking Connection
15 Jan
Summary
- Horses can detect human fear through smell, becoming more wary.
- Odor samples from fearful humans increased horses' startle responses.
- Research suggests emotional contagion between humans and horses via scent.
New research indicates that horses possess the remarkable ability to detect fear in humans via scent. Scientists collected odor samples from human participants based on their emotional responses to various videos, then exposed horses to these distinct smells. The study observed a clear physiological and behavioral response in the horses.
Specifically, horses that encountered odor compounds from fearful humans exhibited increased startle responses and showed less curiosity towards unfamiliar stimuli or people. This suggests that human emotions can be transmitted to horses through smell, a phenomenon described as "emotional contagion."
The findings, published in PLOS One, highlight the importance of a handler's emotional state during interactions with horses. While humans cannot directly control these emitted odors, a key recommendation for riders is to focus on remaining calm and relaxed to ensure safer and more harmonious exchanges.
