Why a little stress every now and then doesn't hurt

When we talk about stress in horses, it is almost always about the negative effects of stress, such as fear reactions, stomach ulcers and behavioral problems. But did you know that stress is not always bad?

5 January '25 - 4 min reading time

Chronic stress is a real health problem in horses. This long-term form of stress occurs when the basic needs of a horse are not met and when the horse experiences continuous stress or fear. Chronic stress can cause all kinds of (biochemical) changes in the body in the long term, affect the immune system and cause diseases.

Positive stress

On the other hand, horses can also experience positive stress. This happens, for example, during training. By making it a bit more difficult or heavier, your horse learns something new, improves its condition and eventually becomes fitter, stronger and more flexible, in response to the challenges offered. Also, something that is initially experienced as 'scary', for example a strange object in a fright training, can eventually become interesting and fun with the right guidance. It then forms an enrichment for the horse instead of a threat.

Training resilience

Because a horse is a flight animal, the first reaction will often automatically be to flee. Horses are made to deal with short-term stress by running away and then releasing the stress again. When a horse is given the time and tools to learn to deal with, for example, new objects or new situations, he often ultimately becomes more self-confident and less sensitive to stress. The big challenge for us as horse owners is to teach our horses this and to guide them well in tense situations. It is important to realize that the physical and mental response to stress are connected. For example, if you can teach your horse to lower its head on command, it will also be able to exhale and release tension. By lowering its head, the built-up adrenaline decreases. A horse that gains control over its body in this way becomes more resilient. 'Softening' the body by, for example, riding circles and lateral movements can also help your horse to release stress.

Stress in training

When we talk about the effects of stress, we often talk about the stress hormone cortisol. If this hormone is elevated for a long time, it has all kinds of negative physical effects. But during functional training, your horse's cortisol level is also elevated. This can have many beneficial physiological functions and, for example, contribute to stronger muscles and better condition. As long as the cortisol concentration decreases after training, for example because your horse is given free movement in a familiar herd and can eat unlimited roughage. If your horse experiences permanent stress because its needs are not being met, chronic stress will develop. Training for too long, too hard or too repetitively can also cause long-term stress. Less stressful training techniques are therefore important for the well-being of your horse.

The limits of stress

Unfortunately, too many horses are still pushed beyond their limits. This is partly because stress is recognised too late or insufficiently. The opinion 'He should just listen' also often prevails, while a fearful horse that is full of adrenaline cannot listen at all. Fear and stress cause a very primary reaction, which originates in the oldest parts of the brain. It is not a conscious choice of your horse to be afraid, just as it is for people. Stress is a welfare issue. And it is up to us as horse owners to teach our horses to deal with it. This is partly in our own interest, because too much stress reduces a horse's performance and also makes him unpredictable, which can lead to dangerous situations.

Conclusion: stress is not always bad

Stress can therefore have a positive and negative effect on your horse. It is important that you can recognise stress well and that stress factors are not constantly present in the life of your horse. Good management and suitable training are important in this. It is also true that horses with a good build and good legwork, the right temperament and a healthy body can function better as a sports horse than horses that have challenges in certain areas. Recognising all these factors is of great importance if we as owners want to give our horses a good life and want our horses to function optimally. So always view stress in the right context, ensure that the basic conditions for your horse are in order and give your horse the right tools and training to deal with stress.