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SARGA.CO – The bond between humans and horses is truly special. For thousands of years, horses have been loyal companions in transportation, farming, and entertainment such as racing. We’ve long known that horses are sensitive to sounds and movements, but who would have guessed that they can also “smell” human emotions while being ridden?
Imagine riding a horse while feeling anxious. You might be quietly restless, your heart racing—but the horse beneath the saddle already knows.
This insight comes from a scientific study conducted by researchers in France and published in Scientific Reports in 2023.
The study revealed that horses can distinguish between the scent of human sweat when a person is afraid versus when they are happy. This finding sheds new light on cross-species communication: horses perceive human emotions not only through voice or body language, but also through their sense of smell.
Scientists collected sweat samples from human volunteers in two conditions: while watching a horror film to induce fear, and while watching a comedy to trigger joy. These sweat samples were then stored and used as “odor cues.”
The horses were tested in two phases. First, they were repeatedly exposed to one odor until they became accustomed to it (habituation). Then, researchers presented both the familiar odor and a new one simultaneously, to see if the horses could tell the difference (discrimination).
The results were striking: horses spent more time sniffing the new odor—evidence that they could indeed recognize the difference between scents linked to human emotions.
The same study also found that horses use their left and right nostrils differently when smelling fear versus happiness. This asymmetry suggests a complex process in the horse’s brain when interpreting emotional signals through scent.
Additionally, the speed at which they became “accustomed” to an odor varied depending on whether it came from fearful or happy sweat.
Researchers emphasize that these findings strengthen the idea that horses are highly sensitive to human emotional signals. The emotional environment around them—including the mood of trainers, jockeys, or owners—can influence their behavior purely through body scent. In other words, human feelings may be “transmitted” to horses through the air.
For horse racing and training, this research carries real weight. A jockey’s stress or fear could unconsciously trigger a horse’s reactions on the track. Owners and trainers should recognize that their own calmness can help keep horses calm.
This knowledge might also pave the way for new calming methods—for example, using scents that mimic the odor of happiness.
Although the Scientific Reports study was conducted with a limited sample, it provides fresh insights. Horses are not just creatures with sharp hearing—they are also skilled “smellers” of human emotions. It is scientific proof that the bond between humans and horses runs deeper than we ever imagined.
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