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Reflections on 'starle response'
Article
There are around 1.3 million horses in Germany, many of which are used for riding or competitive sport. It is not uncommon for horses to suddenly become more skittish, easily startled or appear unsettled. Such horses are often quickly labelled as ‘problem horses’. However, in most cases, this behaviour is not driven by malice or disobedience, but by stress, pain or being overwhelmed.
What is ‘startle response’?
Horses are flight animals – their natural instinct is to flee when danger arises. A one-off startle response to a sudden noise or an unfamiliar object is normal. Horses may also shy away, panic or appear unsettled for no apparent reason. Three distinct types can be identified:
Startle: The horse reacts to a visual or auditory stimulus,
such as a sudden loud noise or an unexpected movement.
Shyness: The horse panics for no apparent reason and flees. This is often caused by stress, pain or a general sense of unease.
Insecurity: The horse appears fearful or uncoordinated, for example in the dark, on uneven ground or in new situations.
The boundaries are often blurred. It is important to note that skittishness is rarely a sign of disobedience, but is usually a sign of fear.
Possible causes: physical condition, posture and training
There are many reasons for skittishness. Often, several factors come into play:
1. Physical causes
Pain: Orthopaedic problems, toothache or ill-fitting equipment can cause a horse to react to the rider’s aids by resisting or trying to escape. In one study, almost half of all sport horses examined and deemed healthy showed signs of mild lameness.
Vision problems: Conditions can cause damage to the eyes and impair vision. However, many horses compensate for visual impairments remarkably well. Not every skittish horse therefore necessarily has an eye problem.
Hearing impairments: Deafness or hearing loss, for example due to inflammation or temporomandibular osteoarthropathy (THO), can lead to increased skittishness.
2. Stress caused by housing and feeding
Lack of exercise and social contact: Horses are herd animals and need regular contact with other horses as well as sufficient exercise. Studies show that horses kept in groups experience less stress than those kept individually.
Feeding mistakes: Too long a break between meals, too little roughage or irregular feeding times can cause stress and frustration. A continuous supply of roughage, on the other hand, promotes serotonin production and has a calming effect.
Lack of sleep: Horses that are unable to lie down, for example due to orthopaedic problems or unsuitable stalls, suffer from a lack of sleep. This manifests itself in nervousness, increased skittishness or even suddenly falling asleep whilst standing.
3. Training and Lateral Movement
Training: Training that is too fast, one-sided or harsh leads to insecurity and ‘learned helplessness’. Horses that are unable to maintain their balance are more likely to shy.
Lateralisation: Horses have a preferred side of the body, much like left-handed or right-handed people. Balanced training that develops both sides of the body equally helps to prevent this.
Diagnostics: A holistic approach
If a horse is becoming increasingly skittish or seems unsettled, the first step is to check its living conditions:
Housing: Is there sufficient exercise and social contact?
Feeding: Is there enough roughage available? Are there fixed feeding times?
Pain: Does the horse show signs of pain or discomfort? The ‘Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram’ (RHpE) and the ‘Horse Grimace Scale’ (HGS) can help with assessment here.
Sight and hearing: Are there any signs of visual or hearing impairments? A veterinary examination will provide clarity.
Training: Is the horse being trained fairly, patiently and in accordance with the training scale? Are laterality and balance taken into account?
Conclusion: Understanding skittishness as a cry for help
Skittishness is rarely a sign of disobedience, but is usually an expression of stress, pain or being overwhelmed. A holistic approach to husbandry, training, health and individual needs is crucial. The solutions often lie in small changes to daily life – such as more social contact, an adjusted diet or fairer training. Chronic pain should, however, be ruled out. Sometimes, though, the horse simply needs more understanding and patience.
Reflections on 'startle response'
The following article is a revised AI summary (Mistral, Le Chat 04/26) of the scientific publication:
Gedanken zur „Schreckhaftigkeit" beim Pferd (2004); Pferdeheilkunde - Equine medicine. May A., Gesell-May S. - DOI: 10.21836/PEM20240303
Reflections on 'startle response'
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