Riders and athletes have long used music to de-stress, but the science behind music for horses has not been thoroughly promoted. Studies show that playing music can help balance equine behaviour because it helps mask outside sounds and vibrations, as well as provide a positive and relaxing effect. Music for horses is a science that has been investigated, but while there are many articles showing a direct correlation between reduction of stress factors in horses that are given up to 10 hours of music, not many stables have piped in music. That could be changing.
In 2013, The Horse‘s Christa Lesté-Lasserre, MA, published that Horses seemed more at ease when classical or country music was played compared to rock or jazz.
Now Janet Marlow, a sound behaviourist, composer, researcher and founder of Pet Acoustics Inc. has created a 10-minute musical soundtrack designed to help reduce horse stress. Here is her YouTube soundtrack.
Marlow focused on creating soothing rhythms and melodies composed for the listening comfort of the horse, including specific pitch, tone and frequencies. The composition has been released by animal health company Boehringer Ingelheim, together with information on the risks posed by stress to horses, and options for reducing it.
“It’s all about composing music and modifying the decibel and frequency levels of each note for the comfortable hearing range of the animal. Using this process, we have tested music through clinical studies at veterinary hospitals, barns, etc, to see the music elicit a release of physical tensions and stress behaviours.”
Horse stress can be triggered by many things, as diverse as thunderstorms/weather, fireworks, over strenuous training, intense competition, floating or trucking, limited suitable forage , dehydration, illness, changes in daily routine, isolation, or even a new stall neighbour.
The music has been posted to YouTube. Visitors can play the music track and video, as well as gain access to additional resources on stress, equine gastric ulcer syndrome, and ways to help prevent it.
What type of music for horses and when?
Experts at the French National Stud found that playing excerpts of classical-style film music to horses, such as passages of the theme from Forrest Gump, by Alan Silvestri, would significantly reduce their anxiety. Other scientists have revealed the dramatic calming effect of Mozart on their horses.
When jazz and rock music played, the horses displayed more frequent stressful behaviours, such as head tossing, stamping, and snorting. When they ate while listening to these two genres, they “snatched at food in short bursts” indicating nervous behaviour. The fast tempo and minor key could cause the signs of distress.
“The behaviours that horses showed while listening to classical and country music suggested that the music had an enriching effect on the environment of the stabled horse.”
To access my classical playlist on Spotify, called ‘Music For Horses’, please click here.
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