For years humans have reported emotional bonds with animals. Horses are often used therapeutically with emotionally and mentally ill and handicapped children and adults. This pilot study is the beginning of many studies to provide the research and data to support these reported bonds.

Most horse people know that a horse’s heart rate reflects its emotional state. A horse can respond to the emotional state of a nearby human. According to a pilot study conducted by Alliant International University Professor Ellen Gehrke and the Institute of HeartMath, horses’ heart rhythms also respond to the emotional state of a nearby human.

Any onlooker can see that horses are extremely sensitive to their environment. This is why we have so many spooking problems. This is the cause of the scary monster trash can and evil murdering shadows. Preliminary research in this project entitled, “Horses and Humans Energetics: The Study of Heart Rate Variability Between Horses and Humans” provides the first proof that horses are equally sensitive to the humans in their environment.

Due to the intuitive understanding of the human-horse bond, horses are often used therapeutically with emotionally and mentally ill and handicapped children and adults. This pilot study may yield research data to support the reported bonds that make therapeutic horsemanship so effective.

Dr. Gehrke’s study used ECG (electro-cardiogram) recorders, which were placed on her and four of her horses. The ECG monitored the subjects for a 24-hour period in which the horses underwent activities such as eating, grooming, stall rest, and being ridden.

Here are the results: the ECG recorders projected increased coherent heart rate variability (HRV) patterns (the result of positive emotions that facilitate brain function) for the horses during times of close, calm contact between with Dr. Gehrke.

This is good news! I am always thrilled when science catches up to the intuitive knowledge that horse people use in their daily lives.