by Mary Ann Simonds

People often think of stress as a human condition; the product of our harried lives. But in reality, stress, which contributes to both emotional and physical problems, is very common in our equine partner’s life, too. Understanding the nature of stress, what causes it, how horses cope, and what we can do to help is an integral part of whole horse care.

What is stress?
All life is stressed to some degree. A little stress helps creatures and other life forms adapt, while too much of it causes species “distress”. Stress by one definition is the “body’s response to anything (stressors) that it considers as threatening” and it can be perceived on both physical and mental/emotional levels.

Evolution has adapted all mammals to react quickly to dangerous threats which is one reason why both humans and horses are still here today. The high measure of energy in the muscles that comes as a result of stress increases the body’s ability to physically react, but at the same time lowers the ability to think. This reaction, often referred to as the “fight or flight” mechanism, has served both horse and human well throughout history, in fact, our very survivals depended on it.

Today, humans and horses face more mental and emotional stress than threats to our lives. But humans have the ability to reason and understand what causes our anxiety, while horses do not. They are still operating as they did thousands of years ago, and although horses have adapted well to domestication, their basic biology and ecology have not changed. Their bodies continue to manifest the fight or flight reactions, and these may show up as behaviorial issues that you can see or internal problems that you may not even associate with stress at first.

Recognize the signs of stress in your horse’s life
Behaviorally stress can show up through gestures like head tossing, weaving, cribbing, or pawing from worry, boredom, or physical discomfort. Like humans, horses can store mental anxiety in their muscles, especially over the pole area, neck and shoulders. This “armor” can cause discomfort and soreness.

The above signs are easy to recognize, but what about the more subtle ones? Many domestic horses have the “I-wantto- please-syndrome” and will behave to fit in even at the possible loss of their own identity and comfort. Often they are labeled as “dead broke”, but instead can be a time bomb waiting to happen.

They are horses who:
Have shut down or are never calm.

Will not make eye contact with you and have tight lips.

Are unfriendly and have no friends.

These horses need to communicate – talk and touch your horse daily. Ask how he or she feels today. As social mammals horses need to feel safe and belong. Internal conditions due to stress are harder to spot. It can affect the sympathetic nervous system, which stimulates involuntary action of the intestines, glands and heart and can show up as diarrhea or colic if the stress is high.

It can also affect the neuroendocrine system by increasing energy flow (to allow the body to move quickly if necessary), which uses stored up fats, proteins and carbohydrates. This is why horses who worry a lot are “hard keepers” or often have ulcers and tense muscles.

How horses perceive stress depends upon the horse’s temperament, experiences, activities, diet, lifestyle and environment.

Temperament and personality matter
Horses release or hold stress depending on their personalities. “Externalizers” release stress through bucking, running, kicking, biting and other actions. “Internalizers” hold stress and often build up digestive and foot problems as well as pain caused from tight muscles. In a herd, sensitive horses get “credit” and are usually honored because their skill protects the others from danger. Yet this same ability is looked down upon by humans and these horses are often disciplined for their over sensitivity or keen sensory awareness rather than rewarded. This misunderstanding can cause worry, fear and even anger in some horses.

Hint: Horses need to communicate with fellow sociable creatures. If horses do not have a good friend or someone to whom they can clearly communicate their distress or concerns, they can become more stressed and act out in an effort to communicate.

A behavioral ecologist and holistic health educator, Mary Ann Simonds has been a voice for horses for over 35 years, and has conducted hundreds of case studies using vibrational remedies, natural nutrition and magnetic field therapy. Mary Ann has a degree in Wildlife Biology and Range Management, a Masters in Holistic Studies and has served as wildlife expert on the U.S. Wild Horse and Burro Advisory Board. She writes, consults and gives clinics across the country. www.maryannsimonds.com