Horses detect human fear by scent, study finds
A PLOS One study found horses smelling sweat from fearful humans startled more, had higher heart rates, avoided handlers and objects, suggesting scent-based emotional contagion.
Overview
French researchers collected armpit sweat from volunteers after watching scary, joyful, and neutral videos, then exposed 43 female horses to those odor samples during behavioral tests.
Horses wearing cotton pads over their nostrils showed stronger startle reactions, higher peak heart rates, and less approach to handlers when smelling fearful sweat.
Researchers also measured saliva cortisol but found no consistent cortisol differences, though behavior and heart-rate data indicated increased reactivity to fear odors.
Authors say findings imply cross-species emotional contagion via chemosignals and advise handlers to manage their emotional state to reduce unintended effects on horses.
Future research will identify specific chemical compounds, test other emotions beyond fear, and examine whether humans can detect horse-produced emotional odors.
Analysis
Analysis unavailable for this viewpoint.
Sources (3)
FAQ
French researchers collected armpit sweat from volunteers after watching scary, joyful, and neutral videos, then exposed 43 female horses to odor samples via cotton pads over nostrils during behavioral tests, measuring startle reactions, heart rates, and approach behaviors.
Horses showed stronger startle reactions, higher peak heart rates, avoided handlers and objects, kept heads high longer, and ears oriented backward when smelling fearful sweat.
No consistent cortisol differences were found in horse saliva, though behavior and heart-rate data indicated increased reactivity to fear odors.
Findings imply cross-species emotional contagion via chemosignals, advising handlers to manage their emotional state to reduce unintended effects on horses.
Future research will identify specific chemical compounds, test other emotions beyond fear, and examine if humans can detect horse-produced emotional odors.
History
This story does not have any previous versions.