What Makes Horses Happy? The Science Behind Their Emotions

For years, horse owners have known that their horses have rich emotional lives, but now science is beginning to confirm just how deeply horses feel. From joy and fear to affection and frustration, horses experience emotions similar to our own. Yet, their emotional world isn't always what we might think. Dr. Helena Telkanranta, the author of The Mind of a Horse: Science Meets Comics, is shedding light on these complex emotional landscapes and what it truly takes to ensure a horse’s happiness.

The Emotional Life of Horses

As Dr. Telkanranta explains, recent advances in animal emotion science have transformed our understanding of animals in general. “Scientists now know that all mammals, birds, and even fish experience basic emotions such as pleasure and fear,” she says. “These emotions are profound, regardless of whether the species is particularly intelligent.”

This discovery is particularly important for those who want to ensure the well-being of animals, especially horses, whose needs often go unnoticed until there's a problem. So, what does it take for a horse to be truly happy?

What Makes a Happy Horse?

The most important factors in a horse’s well-being, according to the latest science, revolve around comfort, freedom, and social connections:

• Social connections: Horses thrive in the company of familiar and friendly horses. The absence of fear or pain in their environment is equally crucial. In fact, research shows that horses are happier when they have physical contact with each other, rather than just being able to see one another.
  
  
• Freedom to roam: A large, varied pasture where horses can move freely is essential to their happiness. Horses need space to express their natural behaviours.
  
  
• Foraging opportunities: Just like their ancestors, who roamed vast grasslands in search of food, horses are happiest when they can forage for their meals. The act of searching and finding food stimulates the release of feel-good chemicals in the brain, like dopamine and serotonin.
  
  
• Fibre-rich food: Constant access to fibre-rich food, such as hay or grass, is vital to a horse's digestive health.
  
  
• Restful sleep: Contrary to popular belief, horses sleep better when they can lie down. A straw-covered floor that allows them to rest properly is key to ensuring a better quality of sleep than sleeping while standing.
  
  
• A supportive environment for foals: Foals should grow up in groups of both young and adult horses to learn vital social skills that will help them as they mature.

Understanding the Importance of Touch

Horses are highly sensitive creatures, and their skin, even when thick, is packed with nerve endings. Contrary to what some may believe, the thickness of a horse's skin does not diminish their ability to feel pain or discomfort. In fact, horses’ sensitivity to touch is so important that research has shown that their welfare improves when they have physical contact with familiar horses, rather than just seeing them across a stable aisle.

The Power of Pain-Free and Fear-Free Living

Pain and fear are serious detriments to a horse’s quality of life. Dr. Telkanranta stresses that pain is an incredibly similar experience across species, with horses experiencing pain at a similar intensity to humans. Pain is not dependent on intelligence or body size. "Even in thick-skinned animals like elephants and horses, the nerve endings that sense pain are located on the surface of the skin," she says.

A horse’s happiness hinges on the absence of both pain and fear. This has led to significant advances in our understanding of how to prevent unintentional harm to horses. For example, poor saddle fit, tight nosebands, and even inappropriate training methods can cause pain without the owner or rider realising it.

The New Science of Horse Training

One common misconception about horses is that they are “spiteful” or capable of plotting revenge. In fact, many of the behaviours that are interpreted this way are simply misunderstandings of how horses think. The traditional method of “breaking” a horse, for example, is based on flawed assumptions about how horses relate to authority. By understanding horses’ emotions and motivations more deeply, owners and trainers can dramatically improve their relationship with their horses.

A New Way to Learn About Horses

Dr. Telkanranta’s new book The Mind of a Horse: Science Meets Comics makes this wealth of scientific knowledge accessible in a way that is both fun and educational. The book uses a colourful graphic novel format to explore the emotional and psychological lives of horses, offering readers a pictorial journey into the science behind their behaviours. The graphic novel format makes the science more approachable for both younger readers and adults, while each chapter ends with a detailed text page for those who want to learn more.

Dr. Andrew McLean, a renowned horse trainer and scientist, praised the book for its unique approach: “This insightful book is cleverly constructed with characters designed to illuminate the inner world of the horse. It’s a friendly scientific approach that makes complex ideas accessible.”

A Popular Resource for Horse Enthusiasts

The Mind of a Horse is gaining popularity among readers of all ages and backgrounds. It has sold thousands of copies since its release and continues to rise in popularity, especially around the holiday season. The book is available for purchase on Amazon, and Dr. Telkanranta offers some helpful advice on finding it due to a quirk in the site's algorithm: “To find it, use search terms like ‘mind horse arador’.”

Dr. Telkanranta, who has a PhD in animal behaviour science, has long been a leader in the field. Having worked at universities in both Bristol and Helsinki, she is considered a leading expert on animal minds. She worked with two acclaimed science communicators and artists to bring this book to life: Maija Karala, a science journalist and illustrator, and Ville Sinkkonen, an artist known for his work with scientific accuracy.

A Deeper Understanding of Horses

With The Mind of a Horse, Dr. Telkanranta and her team are bridging the gap between the latest animal science and everyday horse owners and trainers. By understanding the emotions and needs of horses, we can create better environments for them—ones that allow them to thrive.

For those interested in exploring the book further or seeking more information, sample pages are available on Amazon, and review copies can be requested through the publisher's website.

Dr. Helena Telkanranta: helena.telkanranta@arador.fi
Arador Publishing: www.arador.fi/about