Use of Music Therapy in Aiding the Relaxation of Geriatric Horses.
Authors: Wiśniewska Marcjanna, Janczarek Iwona, Wilk Izabela, Wnuk-Pawlak Elżbieta
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Music Therapy and Relaxation in Geriatric Horses Researchers in Poland investigated whether music therapy could reduce physiological stress markers in aged horses, recognising that geriatric animals often experience heightened anxiety and excitability. Twenty warmblood horses aged 20 years and older were assigned to either an experimental group (exposed to new age relaxation music via a speaker system for 28 days) or a control group, with heart rate and heart rate variability measured at weekly intervals as objective indicators of emotional state. Measurable improvements in both HR and HRV parameters emerged within the first week of exposure and persisted for approximately 1–2 weeks, suggesting that music therapy does elicit a genuine relaxation response in senior horses; however, the benefit diminished substantially after 2–3 weeks of continued exposure, implying an adaptation or habituation effect. For practitioners working with geriatric horses prone to stress-related behavioural or medical complications, this research suggests music therapy could serve as a useful short-term calming intervention—perhaps most effective when applied intermittently rather than continuously, or strategically timed around stressful events such as veterinary procedures or farrier visits. Further investigation into optimal protocols (frequency, duration, music type, and rest periods) would help determine how to maximise the therapeutic window and prevent the rapid decline in effectiveness observed in this preliminary study.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Music therapy using new age recordings may provide temporary stress relief for aged horses, particularly useful during adaptation periods or stressful events, though effects are not sustained beyond 2-3 weeks
- •If implementing music therapy for geriatric horses, plan for short-term applications (1-2 weeks) rather than expecting long-term behavioral modification
- •Consider rotating or varying music stimuli if extended use is desired, as habituation appears to develop within 2-3 weeks
Key Findings
- •Daily exposure to new age music for several hours produced measurable reductions in heart rate and heart rate variability in geriatric horses (≥20 years old)
- •Relaxation effects were short-term, appearing 1 week after onset and persisting for 1-2 weeks only
- •Effects diminished after 2-3 weeks of continued therapy without sustained benefit
- •Music therapy showed positive effect on emotional excitability indicators in geriatric horses during initial treatment phase