Training Horses: Influence of Stable Management

There is evidence that learning ability may be impaired in animals of several species if they are housed in social isolation or barren environments. The environment in which the animal is housed affects interaction between humans and horses. Horses kept on pasture have the ability to interact socially and are exposed to a more diverse environment but have less contact with humans. Horses kept in stalls experience human contact but often have a lack of social interaction and are exposed to more barren environments. Researchers recently investigated whether a horse’s response to initial training may be affected by its housing conditions.

In a study conducted at Michigan State University, researchers monitored behavioral and physiological responses in 16 two-year-old Arabian horses. Twelve of the horses were subjected to a standardized training procedure carried out by the same trainer, and four horses were selected as controls (C). Eight horses were kept at pasture (P) and eight others were kept in individual stalls (S) for three months prior to the experiment. Twelve horses (six P and six S) were subjected to training, and four horses (two P and two S) were used as controls.

Initial training consisted of releasing the animal into the round pen and encouraging the horse to run in one direction until the horse accepted the trainer. About ten minutes post-release, the horse approached the trainer and a halter was used to handle the horse. After handling, a saddle was placed on the animal’s back and the horse was released in the round pen. After 20 minutes of handling, the trainer was able to mount and ride the horse and teach some basic commands. Minimal behavioral responses were observed. The training sessions lasted an average of 30 minutes. Control horses were released into the round pen and left to explore the environment for 30 minutes.

Researchers recorded the sessions to make behavioral observations and assess the interactions between the trainer and the horse in training. Measures of plasma cortisol, an indicator of stress, were monitored in blood samples collected on training days 1, 7, 21, and 28. Samples were collected prior to training, immediately post-training, 15 minutes post-training, and 75 minutes post-training.

There were no differences in basal cortisol levels among the three groups studied prior to training. Plasma cortisol levels showed significant changes after training or exposure to a novel environment in the three groups for day one, with the greatest changes seen in stalled horses. Differences between basal cortisol levels and post-training levels could be observed in trained horses on days 7, 21, and 28, but were not evident for control horses.

Results suggested that effective training may be accomplished in rather a short time using humane techniques. The horses’ housing conditions appeared to have no significant effect on cortisol release during initial training. These results may generate recommendations that could be given to horse owners about which housing conditions may maximize the opportunity for success of training procedures.