Reduce Horse Stress

Cortisol, the "fight or flight" hormone, is released during a stressful situation. This is good if you're fleeing a predator, bad if the "danger" is a stray grocery bag that's blown into your pasture.

Chronic stress (and the continued release of cortisol) can cause problems with your horse's immunity, digestion, behavior, reproduction and cardiovascular system. Gastric ulcers, colic, and diarrhea may also occur due to stress.

So what stresses out a horse? They don't watch CNN, worry about their weight or have teenagers.

Horses experience stress when their routine is changed, their evolutionary needs are not met or when they are ill or injured.

Here are some common sources of horse stress and some tips to overcome them:

1. Improper Feeding
In the wild, horses move and graze. In fact, feral horses spend 70 percent of their time grazing. If your horses are not on pasture, try to feed at least four times a day at regular intervals.

2. Lack Of Exercise
Sedentary horses do not burn off excess energy. A horse that is unable to walk, run and play regularly will experience stress.

3. Isolation
Horses are herd animals. A herd provides security, status, emotional support and entertainment. Provide companionship for your horse in the form of another horse, a donkey, a goat...even a cat! Just don't keep a horse alone. A lonely horse will not thrive.

4. Boredom
Provide toys to combat common stress related behaviors such as cribbing and weaving. Mirrors can reduce anxiety for horses confined in their stalls. Looking at themselves is very calming to some horses. Just another difference between horses and people, I guess.

5. Lack of Confidence
A confident horse is better able to cope with stress. Gently expose your horse to new sights, sounds and smells, allowing your horse's natural curiosity to expand their experience of their environment. Encourage exploration; don't force the issue. Adding something new to the environment is interesting and lets your horse build her confidence.

6. Contagious Stress
Speak to your horse in calming tones and stay cool. Do not become stressed over the fact that your horse is stressed. It's not what you say, it's how you say it. Shouting CALM DOWN!!! is not effective.

Reducing horse stress increases horse health. Many techniques require nothing more than an understanding of a horse's basic evolutionary needs. Respect your horse's natural instincts and she'll thrive.

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