How Would Your Horse Prefer to Travel?

by Diana Lavelle, 2000

Diana Lavelle studies six horses and ponies to explore how companionship, travelling position, restraint and access to hay may affect their comfort and stress during transport. Pulse rates and behaviour were monitored before and after each journey to identify arrangements that appeared to help the horses travel more calmly.

Project abstract

This Horse Psychology Project investigates how horses prefer to travel and how long they may take to recover following a journey. Six horses and ponies with different ages and travelling histories participated: Teddy, George, Autumn, Libby, Poppy and Red.

Journeys lasted between 10 and 30 minutes, with a shorter limit for the 13-month-old Teddy. The horses travelled under different conditions, including alone or with a companion, tied or loose, and with or without hay. Pulse rates were measured before travelling, immediately after arrival and again 20 minutes later. Behaviour, apparent anxiety and travelling position were also observed and recorded.

Within this study, travelling alone was associated with greater increases in pulse rate and more behaviours such as whinnying and general restlessness. The horses appeared calmer when accompanied. When given freedom to select their position, they generally travelled at a herringbone angle or facing backwards. They also spread their feet and lowered their heads and necks while the vehicle slowed or turned, which Diana interpreted as attempts to maintain balance. Hay appeared to provide occupation and comfort, although it did not produce a substantial difference in pulse rate.

Pulse rates generally returned close to their pre-journey levels within 20 minutes of arrival. The project concludes that companionship, sufficient space, freedom to adjust position and the opportunity to lower the head may help horses travel more comfortably.