Scientists have concluded that not only dogs, but also horses are able to smell human fear. As a study published in the journal Plos One showed, horses' heart rates accelerated and they became less approachable when they smelled the sweat of frightened people, writes The Guardian.
Illustrative photo. Photo: "Nasha Niva"
French researchers conducted an experiment with volunteers. Cotton pads were placed under their armpits, after which they were shown either fragments of a horror film or cheerful scenes from movies. These pads were then placed near the horses' nostrils.
Scientists then observed the animals' behavior: how often they approached the handler, whether they touched him, and how they reacted to unexpected stimuli, such as a suddenly opened umbrella during feeding.
It was found that when smelling human fear, horses had a higher heart rate, appeared more frightened, and kept their distance from people. At the same time, the level of the stress hormone, cortisol, did not significantly change.
The author of the study noted that riders and those who work with horses should monitor their emotional state. Calmness and a positive mood help to interact better with animals, while human fear can cause counter-anxiety in a horse and a stronger reaction to danger.
If these conclusions are confirmed in further research, it would mean that fear can be "transmitted," and volatile substances in human sweat serve as a signal of possible threat to animals. Scientists emphasize that this is further evidence that emotional signals can cross species boundaries.
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