Music as a Calming Influence for Young Horses

Does music soothe nervous young horses? Yes, according to researchers from the University of Queensland.

To investigate whether relaxing music caused behavioral or physiological changes in young horses, researchers randomly divided a group of 12 weanlings into two groups and then stabled them. One group was exposed to music and another group was not. Because this was a crossover study, both groups were placed in the same situations with and without music. At certain times, weanlings were exposed to a specific stressor. In this case, the stressor involved having stallions in close proximity to the weanlings.

Heart rates and behavior were recorded to assess the effectiveness of music as a calming influence.  Higher and prolonged elevated heart rates were indicators of stress as were certain behaviors such as walking and standing alert. Calm behaviors included standing still, lying down, and eating.

An independent stress score of 0 to 5 was also given from direct observations of behavior such as standing quietly, sleeping, and lying down (a score of 0) to pawing, rearing, kicking, stall walking, and striking the body against stationary objects (a score of 5). The particular music was chosen because of its constant rhythm, continuity, and predictable melody.

The results of the study indicate the music has a modifying effect on the response of weanlings to stressful events when stabled.  Peak heart rates were lower and elevated heart rates were quicker to return to normal when music was played.  Behavior was affected by music, as the weanlings were more likely to be standing still and eating than alert and walking when the music played. The stress scores were 0 more often when music played.

The mechanism by which the music has an effect is difficult to determine, but this study clearly showed that music can have a beneficial consequences on the behavior of young stabled horses.