Do Horses Lower Stress?
A study was done measuring the cortisol levels (stress hormone) in 130 adolescent youths who were spending time learning about horses, grooming, handling and learning to ride. It was a 12 week course and each spent 90 minutes a week with horses. There were two groups: the ones who got to spend time with the horses and the other group was put on a 'Wait-list' and not allowed any time with horses.
Each youth gave 6 saliva samples over a 2 day period, before and after the 12 week program. The results were published in the American Psychological Association's Human-Animal Interaction Bulletin. The results showed the group who spent time with horses had significantly lower stress than the group who did not spend time with horses.
One of the doctors, Dr. Pendry, overseeing the study discovered that the stress levels were not only lower cortisol levels, but it was especially in the afternoon. This means that there is less chance of developing psychopathology problems, which are mental health disorders.
Each youth gave 6 saliva samples over a 2 day period, before and after the 12 week program. The results were published in the American Psychological Association's Human-Animal Interaction Bulletin. The results showed the group who spent time with horses had significantly lower stress than the group who did not spend time with horses.
One of the doctors, Dr. Pendry, overseeing the study discovered that the stress levels were not only lower cortisol levels, but it was especially in the afternoon. This means that there is less chance of developing psychopathology problems, which are mental health disorders.
Already in place are program like Animal assisted therapy, which involves animal interaction and is used to help calm and reduce stress in challenged people already suffering from mental health problems. However, spending time with horses can always be considered a preventative therapy in the average person. It's not just horsing around, but actually has a scientific basis.
As Churchill said, "There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man."
As Churchill said, "There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man."
