The way horses are bred and kept can have a significant influence on the development of their personality, according to a study conducted by international researchers and published.
The team surveyed around 2,800 horse owners about the animals’ personalities, as well as the conditions in which they lived and the care they received. Aspects such as sociability with people and other horses, attention, and levels of anxiety were analyzed, with the researchers finding strong associations between these traits and the animals’ environment.
Horses whose owners stayed with them consistently and spent quality time in their company were rated as more sociable with people. By contrast, animals kept alone showed lower levels of sociability with other horses.
The frequency with which horses were ridden also emerged as associated with behavioral differences. According to owners, the animals ridden more frequently were more attentive and exhibited lower levels of anxiety.
The researchers emphasize that the findings reinforce the importance of human choices in shaping how horses’ behavior develops, with implications for their welfare.
