Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Many people are interacting with horses in different ways and for different reasons, as a hobby or
professionally. Domestic horses are dependent on humans to understand and meet their needs,
interpret their expression of emotions to recognize signs of negative emotions, and perhaps equally
important, to recognize signs of positive emotions. It is widely accepted in research that animal
welfare is more than just the absence of negative emotions, it is also about the presence of positive
emotions. This puts a lot of pressure on humans to make sure the horses they take care of have a
positive welfare. A review was made on what is currently known about how horses’ express
emotions through body language and facial expressions. This was supplemented by a survey asking
people actively involved with horses which emotions they think horses can experience, which
emotions they have seen horses express, and how much attention they pay to a horse’s expression
of emotions when interacting with them. Horses can most likely experience every emotion and mood
that humans can. The respondents of the survey did not quite agree with the literature review on
which emotions horses can experience. Animals’ emotions and moods are important parts of their
welfare, and this is why humans interacting with horses should have knowledge about which
emotions they can experience and how they are expressed. To promote positive emotions in horses,
humans need knowledge on what brings them out and how to recognize them. To recognize how
certain emotions are expressed could also contribute to safer human-horse interactions.
Keywords: horse, emotion, mood, facial expression, body language, welfare, interaction, human