Is any kind of stress unhealthy for horses?

Stress, the word alone can evoke stress in horse owners. We would like to protect our animals from the negative consequences of stress. Indeed, severe and prolonged stress can lead to serious health problems and behavioural changes. But is stress always unhealthy? And should you always combat stress in horses?

12 May '25 - 2 min reading time

The term "stress" simply means being alert, ready to flee or fight. Thanks to stress, the body prepares itself to handle threats or escape from them. Stress can actually be positive! Mild tension and alertness, for example, can help your horse stay focused and perform better in the competition arena, or respond more sharply to the aids.

Startled and let go

Horses are flight animals. When wild horses sense danger, they run away, then stop a little further on and lower their heads to graze again. During the moment of fear, the stress hormone adrenaline briefly increases in the blood. Once the threat has passed and the horse feels safe enough to lower its head, the hormone is cleared from the system. This action of lowering the head and exhaling is often used in groundwork as a technique to gradually teach a horse to "self-soothe" in new or stressful situations. When a horse is given the time to learn this technique, it will become more confident and less sensitive to stress in unfamiliar situations.

Positive stress

Positive stress exists too. This refers mainly to situations where the horse is engaged mentally or physically and learns something new. At first, this can feel threatening to a horse. But with good guidance and by introducing new things in small steps, the stress can stay below the threshold where the horse wants to flee. By making training more challenging or intense, your horse learns, builds fitness, and eventually becomes stronger, more supple, and more resilient.

Beware of chronic stress!

When presenting new experiences, exposing your horse to “scary” situations, or stimulating him in training, it’s essential to ensure that the stress remains manageable. How much “educational” stress a horse can tolerate before it becomes too much varies per animal. An experienced competition horse that has seen and done a lot will generally handle more than a young three-year-old fresh from the rearing field. Always tailor your approach, and remember that a stressful situation for a horse can feel very different than for a human. If your horse shuts down, stops responding to aids, or can’t release the stress, it’s a sign that his capacity is exceeded. In that case, take smaller steps next time. You don’t want your horse to be in a constant state of alert. Chronic stress can throw the entire body out of balance: hormone levels become disrupted, the immune system weakens, learning capacity drops, and issues like allergies or sugar metabolism disorders can emerge.

Balance with clove and herbs

To help your horse stay balanced, better process small stressors, and release tension, several supplements are available. One option is an extract from the clove plant. This plant contains a wide variety of signaling compounds (cannabinoids) that support the nervous system and promote good communication between cells. The clove plant can help your horse come out of its shell during stressful periods and assist in restoring inner balance. These compounds also support the immune system, making your horse more resilient. For particularly stressful situations such as moving to a new stable or attending a competition, you can consider a short course of a herbal extract containing chamomile and passionflower. Start giving the extract a few days before the event. These herbs help your horse process tension more quickly and calmly.