The power of interspecific sociality: how humans provide social buffering for horses
Abstract In this study, we assessed the interspecific “social buffering effect” of humans on horses, exploring how human presence influences stress responses in horses in an unfamiliar environment using the “isolation paradigm.” We examined nine Haflinger horses under two counterbalanced conditions:...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Animal Cognition |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-025-01942-5 |
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| author | Alfredo Di Lucrezia Anna Scandurra Daria Lotito Valeria Iervolino Biagio D’Aniello Vincenzo Mastellone Pietro Lombardi Claudia Pinelli |
| author_facet | Alfredo Di Lucrezia Anna Scandurra Daria Lotito Valeria Iervolino Biagio D’Aniello Vincenzo Mastellone Pietro Lombardi Claudia Pinelli |
| author_sort | Alfredo Di Lucrezia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract In this study, we assessed the interspecific “social buffering effect” of humans on horses, exploring how human presence influences stress responses in horses in an unfamiliar environment using the “isolation paradigm.” We examined nine Haflinger horses under two counterbalanced conditions: with a passive human stranger (social condition) or alone (isolation condition). Stress responses were assessed through cortisol measurements, heart rate monitoring, and behavioral observations. While cortisol levels significantly increased in both conditions, with no notable differences before and after the tests, heart rate data revealed a different pattern. Results indicated that stress generally decreased in both scenarios, impacting heart rate. Initially, during the first five minutes, heart rate was significantly higher in the social condition compared to isolation, but this trend reversed in the following intervals, with heart rate significantly decreasing as interaction with the stranger increased. Positive interaction between time and stranger-directed behaviors suggested the stranger’s influence on heart rate strengthened over time. Overall, these finding suggest that while cortisol data did not reflect a social buffering effect, other metrics indicated that human presence effectively reduced stress in horses after a brief adjustment period, supporting the hypothesis that horses can benefit from human presence during stress, after a short adaptation time. This study highlights the complex nature of stress responses in horses and the potential role of humans as social buffers in interspecific contexts. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0f6b9c1963144302b809c609f4aa4f2f |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1435-9456 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animal Cognition |
| spelling | doaj-art-0f6b9c1963144302b809c609f4aa4f2f2025-08-20T02:56:07ZengSpringerAnimal Cognition1435-94562025-03-0128111310.1007/s10071-025-01942-5The power of interspecific sociality: how humans provide social buffering for horsesAlfredo Di Lucrezia0Anna Scandurra1Daria Lotito2Valeria Iervolino3Biagio D’Aniello4Vincenzo Mastellone5Pietro Lombardi6Claudia Pinelli7Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico IIDepartment of Biology, University of Naples Federico IIDepartment of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico IIDepartment of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico IIDepartment of Biology, University of Naples Federico IIDepartment of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico IIDepartment of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico IIDepartment of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences & Technologies, University of Campania Luigi VanvitelliAbstract In this study, we assessed the interspecific “social buffering effect” of humans on horses, exploring how human presence influences stress responses in horses in an unfamiliar environment using the “isolation paradigm.” We examined nine Haflinger horses under two counterbalanced conditions: with a passive human stranger (social condition) or alone (isolation condition). Stress responses were assessed through cortisol measurements, heart rate monitoring, and behavioral observations. While cortisol levels significantly increased in both conditions, with no notable differences before and after the tests, heart rate data revealed a different pattern. Results indicated that stress generally decreased in both scenarios, impacting heart rate. Initially, during the first five minutes, heart rate was significantly higher in the social condition compared to isolation, but this trend reversed in the following intervals, with heart rate significantly decreasing as interaction with the stranger increased. Positive interaction between time and stranger-directed behaviors suggested the stranger’s influence on heart rate strengthened over time. Overall, these finding suggest that while cortisol data did not reflect a social buffering effect, other metrics indicated that human presence effectively reduced stress in horses after a brief adjustment period, supporting the hypothesis that horses can benefit from human presence during stress, after a short adaptation time. This study highlights the complex nature of stress responses in horses and the potential role of humans as social buffers in interspecific contexts.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-025-01942-5HorsesSocial bufferSocialityHeart rateIsolation paradigmCortisol |
| spellingShingle | Alfredo Di Lucrezia Anna Scandurra Daria Lotito Valeria Iervolino Biagio D’Aniello Vincenzo Mastellone Pietro Lombardi Claudia Pinelli The power of interspecific sociality: how humans provide social buffering for horses Animal Cognition Horses Social buffer Sociality Heart rate Isolation paradigm Cortisol |
| title | The power of interspecific sociality: how humans provide social buffering for horses |
| title_full | The power of interspecific sociality: how humans provide social buffering for horses |
| title_fullStr | The power of interspecific sociality: how humans provide social buffering for horses |
| title_full_unstemmed | The power of interspecific sociality: how humans provide social buffering for horses |
| title_short | The power of interspecific sociality: how humans provide social buffering for horses |
| title_sort | power of interspecific sociality how humans provide social buffering for horses |
| topic | Horses Social buffer Sociality Heart rate Isolation paradigm Cortisol |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-025-01942-5 |
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