Heart to heart

A new study by researchers in the Department of Animal Environment and Health at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala apparently shows that horses’ heart rates can be affected by a human’s heart rate. The study had people both ride and lead horses near someone holding an umbrella. The person with the horse thought the umbrella was going to be opened on the fourth time around, but it was not. There was an increase in both the human’s and the horse’s heart rate even though the umbrella was not opened, and the fourth pass was similar to the three previous passes.
This study is evidence that subtle gestures we may or may not be aware of can influence our horse. Heart rate is one of them to consider. If we are leading or riding a horse who is fearful, we must always remember to be calm, no matter what the situation may be. Calmness can prevent situations from arising, and if they do arise, it can prevent them from escalating. We also have to remember that if we are fearful when riding or when leading a horse, the horse will pick up on that. The most helpful thing we can do is learn how to centre when being around horses. Horses are herd animals, and it’s only natural for them to pick up on our nervousness and wonder if there is a reason to be nervous.
The next time you’re with a horse, consciously think of being centred and calm. Take deep breaths from your diaphragm. Let all of the stress that you may be experiencing, all of the thoughts of things you “have to do” leave your mind. When you’re with your horse, your focus should be on the relationship the two of you have. Being with horses is a wonderful way for us to be more balanced, centred, and connected. The natural world does not multitask; it is centred and focused. We can learn a lot from that way of being.
Another thing to keep in mind is that there are many other factors that influence our relationship with horses that we may not consciously think about. While this study focused on the factor of heart rate, think about others that might be creating communication between you and your horse without you even thinking about it. When you lead a horse near a potential scary situation, do you breathe faster, perhaps grip the lead rein tighter? When you’re riding, and you are worried something might spook your horse, do you hold your breath or breath very shallowly, sit up straighter and become more tense, close your fingers around the reins so that you’re putting pressure on the reins without realizing it?
What this study shows us and what it allows us to begin to consider are all of the tiny ways in which we influence and communicate with our horses all of the time. It also allows us to realize that we can have a much more subtle and sensitive relationship with our horses. And if that is true, if we have been relying too much on heavy handiness with our horses, what else have we been missing with our horses that may lead to a better relationship?