Horses are known to be majestic, strong, and expressive animals. When they are around humans and other horses, they are communicative and thrive in different social settings. These qualities enabled the development of a strong bond with humans that is not merely functional but also deeply emotional and psychological.

Understanding the psychology of horse-human relationships helps horse owners gain insights into establishing and nurturing a strong and mutually beneficial bond.

Historical Context of Horse-Human Relationships

The human-horse relationship dates back to the past, as they were first domesticated for riding, pulling chariots, and agricultural work. Aside from daily labour, horses were also crucial during the war. They fought alongside soldiers and helped transport essential supplies needed in war zones. 

Horses bond with humans and their relationships with soldiers are likely stronger due to the highly emotional environment.

The domestication of horses provided unprecedented mobility and power, revolutionising early civilisation as we know it. This historical reliance on horses for survival and progress became the foundation for a deep bond and relationship that eventually evolved into one of companionship and mutual respect.

Different Factors Influencing Bond Development of Horses and Humans

Developing a bond with a horse is a multifaceted process influenced by various factors. Understanding these factors can help horse owners foster stronger and more positive relationships with their horse companions.

Horse's Temperament and Personality

Similar to humans, horses have individual temperaments and personalities. Some equine companions are naturally more curious and friendly, which makes them more inclined to form an emotional bond with humans. 

Meanwhile, other horses tend to be more aloof and cautious, which requires more time and patience for humans to develop trust.

Understanding and respecting a horse's unique personality and how it affects their behaviour and cognition is crucial in establishing and building a positive relationship. A horse's experience also has a significant role. 

Horses that have been treated kindly and respectfully by humans are typically more open to forming new bonds.

Understanding Equine Behaviour

A deep understanding of how a horse behaves is vital for forming a strong human-horse bond. Horses have distinct social structures and intrinsic behaviours.

Knowledge of herd dynamics, dominance hierarchies, and social bonding can help humans interact with a horse that respects their natural tendencies. For example, recognising that a horse establishes dominance through subtle body language can help humans be informed about how they can assert leadership without resorting to aggression. 

This respect for the horse's innate behaviour can foster a more harmonious and cooperative relationship.

Human Behaviour and Attitude

The behaviour and attitude of the human handler can also significantly impact bond development. Horses are highly sensitive to the emotions and body language of humans they interact with.

Calm, confident, and consistent human behaviour fosters a sense of safety and trust in the horse. This is particularly significant if the horse eventually needs to be loaded and unloaded in a horse float for travel purposes. Meanwhile, erratic, aggressive, or fearful behaviour can cause anxiety and mistrust in the horse.

Building a bond with horses requires patience, empathy, and a genuine respect for the horse.

Effective Communication

Effective communication between horses and humans is the cornerstone of establishing trust. Trust is established when the horse feels understood and secure in their interactions. Establishing trust is vital for safe handling and training. 

A horse that trusts its owner is more likely to be cooperative and responsive, which lessens the risk of accidents and injuries.

Horses primarily communicate emotions and intentions through body language, vocalisations, and changes in behaviour. They are highly perceptive and attuned to the slightest changes in their environment and the behaviour of other horses and humans.

Humans must be able to adapt their communication style to be understood by the horse with whom they are trying to form a bond. This involves paying attention to their body language, tone of voice, and actions.

Mutual Benefit

A successful human-horse relationship is built on mutual benefit. Horses naturally thrive with companionship, care, and exercise. Meanwhile, humans gain emotional fulfilment, physical activity, and competitive success from their interaction with horses.

Humans also naturally respect horses as they can relate to them. Horses can communicate various emotions and feel empathy. 

Moreover, they also learn to trust, show stress, and thrive in open spaces. Not only do people have these different traits, but they can also recognise them in horses in the same way that horses can read this in humans.

Training Methods

Training methods play an important role in the development of horse-human bonds. Positive reinforcement training, which rewards positive and desirable behaviours with treats and praise, can strengthen the bond by creating a positive association with human interaction.

Meanwhile, a harsh or punitive training strategy can damage trust in the horse and create fear and anxiety. Training should be tailored to the individual horse, considering its temperament and experience.

Consistency and Routine

Consistency and establishing a routine are vital in making a horse feel secure and comfortable. Horses thrive on predictability, which is why consistency helps reduce stress and anxiety.

Regular feeding times, consistent training schedules, and predictable handling routines can contribute to creating a sense of security for the horse. 

Consistency in the human's behaviour and responses to the horse is equally significant, as this helps the horse understand expectations and fosters a sense of reliability.

Socialisation and Interaction

Horses are known as social animals that thrive on interactions. Providing various opportunities for socialisation can be beneficial for their mental and emotional well-being. 

Socialisation helps maintain health by mimicking natural herd behaviours for horses while interacting with horses, which can provide emotional and psychological benefits for humans in the long run.

Involving other humans in the horse's care and training can also enhance the bond. This creates a broader networking and enriches the horse's social experience and interactions with others.

Conclusion

Learning more about the psychology of horse-human relationships can be helpful for training and travelling purposes. Horse owners who are considering travelling with their horses from one place to another can buy a horse float from Euro Float.

EuroFloat is a reputable supplier of a wide range of horse floats in Australia. Learn more about our straight-load floats, angle-load horse floats and other products, which are based on advanced European-influenced designs that fit the rugged Australian environment. 

With over 20 years of experience with importation, distribution, and sales, we can proficiently deliver your float and accommodate after-sales queries and support.

References:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/establishing-horse-human-bond-understanding-benefits-patterson/

https://agapepetservices.com/make-horse-human-relationships-unique/