Auditory enrichment on facial and physiological responses of Pantaneiro geldings and mares under short-term stress.
Authors: da Fé Vanessa Cristini Sebastião, Dos Santos Viviane Maria Oliveira, de Lima Ana Caroline Bini, Hernandes Maria Simara Palermo, Caldara Fabiana Ribeiro, Gomes Marina De Nadai Bonin
Journal: PloS one
Summary
# Editorial Summary Researchers investigated whether auditory enrichment could mitigate stress responses in Pantaneiro horses subjected to social isolation and movement restriction—conditions commonly encountered during veterinary procedures, farrier work, and training. Using a controlled Latin square design, they measured physiological parameters (heart rate, heart rate variability, respiratory rate, and ocular/surface temperatures via infrared thermography) alongside ten distinct facial expressions in mares and geldings exposed to classical, country, and new age music genres over 24-minute periods in a restraining stock. Mares demonstrated clear stress reduction with classical music (Beethoven's 9th Symphony) and country music, showing lower heart rates and reduced frequencies of stress-related facial expressions including nostril flaring, ear rotation, and half-blinking; geldings exhibited more modest responses, with increased ear-forward positioning during country music being the most notable finding. These results suggest that auditory enrichment is a practical, non-invasive tool for reducing acute stress in confined horses, though efficacy may be sex-dependent and genre-specific. For practitioners, incorporating appropriate music during routine procedures such as farrier appointments, veterinary examinations, or stable confinement may improve animal welfare and handler safety by reducing physiological and behavioural stress markers.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Classical and country music may help reduce acute stress responses in mares during unavoidable restraint situations such as veterinary treatment or transport; consider trial implementation in practice
- •Sex differences in music preference exist—mares responded better to classical/country while geldings showed less pronounced responses, suggesting individualized enrichment strategies may be more effective than one-size-fits-all approaches
- •Auditory enrichment through music is a low-cost, non-invasive management tool that could be incorporated during stressful handling situations, though effects are modest and context-specific
Key Findings
- •Classical music reduced heart rate in mares (p<0.05) and increased body temperature during classical treatment
- •Country music reduced heart rate in mares (p<0.05) and increased ocular temperature in geldings (p<0.05)
- •Facial expressions of stress (nostril dilator, ear rotator, half blink) were significantly reduced in mares during music treatments
- •Geldings showed differential responses to music genres, with new age music producing potentially more favorable responses than classical or country genres