Do Horses Miss Their Owners and Like Humans?

Last Updated on February 22, 2022 by Allison Price

You’ve likely wondered if your horse misses you if you aren’t there. Although every horse owner would like to believe that they do, it is important to recognize that each horse does this in their own way.

Horses often miss their owners, who care for them every day. Horses are creatures that thrive on routine. They will learn to depend on what you set for them. Horses may become distressed or uneasy if their routine is interrupted.

People believe that horses are only missing their owners because they don’t have enough food. Horses can recognize the voice, facial expressions, and distinctive behavior of their owners. Your horse will sense your absence and instantly recognize when someone is there.

Are Horses like Humans?

Horses are an entirely different species, and they don’t speak the same language as humans. This makes it difficult to answer this question. Scientists aren’t sure if horses can form attachments in the same way as humans. Horse enthusiasts are certain that horses can like some people more than others.

Experts believe horses associate positive emotions with humans. Studies have shown that horses can recall past interactions with humans, and they will alter their behavior accordingly.

This means that your horse will remember how you treated him in the past. It will then decide if he likes or dislikes you. The Universities of Sussex and Portsmouth conducted a study that showed horses can recognize human facial expressions. Horses can detect when someone is being kind or threatening, which is an adaptation that allows them to predict human behavior.

Do Horses Miss Their Owners and Like Humans?

This same study showed that horses react differently when exposed to negative facial expressions and to people they have had previous interactions with. If you want your horse to love you, it is important to maintain your cool and reward good behavior.Media Home / Shutterstock.com

Another study showed that horses’ heart rates and human hearts are similar depending on what emotion is experienced. These results show that horses enjoy being around positive emotions.

Five Tips to Make Your Horse Look Like You

Let’s not forget that horses are more comfortable with certain people than others. Now let’s talk about ways you can make your horse feel like you. These areas will help you get closer to your magical bond with your horse.

1. Be consistent and predictable

To make your horse like you, you need to first gain his trust and respect. Your horse will learn to trust you if you are consistent with your training and daily routine. This is what our 10 ways to build trust and rapport with your horse guide explains.

2. Keep positive

Keep a positive attitude around horses. Horses are naturally sensitive to your emotions and will seek you out if you present a positive image.

Even after a difficult day, it can be hard to remain positive and calm. Try to calm down and let go of anger and frustration before you meet your horse.

3. Spend quality time with horses

You can find the time to be alone with your horse and not ask him to do anything. It is a great way for horses to form a bond with you.

4. Groom your horse

Regularly give your horse a thorough grooming. Grooming can help you spot small injuries or problems and bond your horse.

Horse grooming is shown reduces horses’ heart rate. This suggests that they enjoy it. You will be a great help to your horse by finding his favorite places to scratch.

5. Positive behavior should be rewarded

Horse owners should reward their horses for good behavior. To tell your horse that he did the right thing, you can give him food, praise, verbal praise, or take a break from the exercise. Timing is crucial as your horse only has a short window of time to pair the reward with the behavior you wish to encourage.

Are Horses attracted to their Owners?

Hypno1000 / Shutterstock.com

Horses can form strong bonds with other horses and animals, as we know. Many famous racehorses were hard to handle and refused to race when their companion was not nearby. But horses can become attached to their owners.

There are many opinions on whether horses can be attached to their owners. Horses show affection for their owners and some believe they can form strong bonds.

Equestrians strongly believe that horses can form long-lasting relationships with their owners. A 2020 study of Swedish researchers revealed unexpected results. The study found that horses regard humans as “safe havens”, but they have no preference for their owners.

The research involved 26 horses with their owners. They were observed in various situations. Overall, horses behaved more calmly around people than when they were alone in unfamiliar environments.

Horses’ heart rate increased when they were separated from their owners and decreased after a reunion. It didn’t matter if the owner was a stranger to the horse, or if they were their own owners. This study is interesting, but there are many examples of horses bonding in the equestrian community.

How to tell if your horse has bonded with you

Your horse will let you know when you have earned his trust and affection. These are the signs your horse is bonded to you.

Your horse coming up to you on the fields is one of the first signs to watch out for. Your horse will look in your direction and turn his head towards you when you approach.

Your horse will not only be focused on you but also follow your commands and respect your authority. Your horse will happily follow you around the arena, and he will look for your direction in difficult situations.

Relaxing in your presence is another sign your horse has formed a bond with you. You may notice that he scratches your back when you groom him. This is a sign that he regards you as a friend. To learn more, read our 7 ways to bond and bond with your horse

Are Horses attracted to their Owners?

Many researchers doubt that horses feel love for their owners. It all depends on your definition of love. Horses probably don’t feel the same love as humans.

Although there is no evidence to support the idea that horses feel love, it is possible for them to have emotional connections. Studies have shown that horses value their connection with their owners and rely on them for comfort.

We can confirm that horses have the ability to show affection and feel love. This is a slightly different experience than the affection shown to a child or dog, but it can still be seen every day in the field and when handling horses. As with other animals and humans, individual horses may express affections in different ways.AnnaElizabeth photography / Shutterstock.com

Franklin Levinson, a highly skilled trainer and horseman, shared some wise words in “Way of the Horse”, his book. He believes “love and respect are fundamentally the same thing for horses”and that they must be earned by people.

Are Horses Sad when You Sell Them

Horses often seem to go down after being sold, even if they were in a stable home. While they may wonder about their carers and friends, most horses settle down within a few days.

Horses feel the loss of their routines and owners when they move to new places. They are good at forming new habits and bonds quickly after a major change.

Can horses recognize their owners?

Research shows that horses recognize their owners in the same way as they recognize other members of their herd. Similar to us, horses can match specific visual and auditory cues with certain individuals.

British scientists Dr. Leanne PROOPS and Dr. Karen McComb conducted one of the first studies that provided evidence to support this. The experiment involved two people standing on either side of the horse and listening to a recording played by scientists from a hidden speaker.

Most horses recognize the familiar voice and look at the owner. However, horses didn’t look at the unfamiliar person when they heard the voice from an unknown human.

Another experiment was where two familiar faces were placed next to a horse. The horses were able to match the voice with the familiar face to show their ability to recognize people.

Are Horses able to Remember You?

Evidence is abundant that horses can still remember their owners, even years later. This is particularly true for those who had positive or negative interactions.

Horses are able to retain their past experiences in a pristine state thanks to their excellent memory. Our memories, however, change slightly each time we think about them or attach feelings to them.

The topic of equine memory has been extensively studied. Researchers agree that horses can remember people just as well as other horses. Horses recognize their individuality through the use of auditory cues and past experiences.

Allison Price
Allison Price

I’m Allison, born and raised in San Diego California, the earliest memory I have with horses was at my grandfather’s farm. I used to sit at the stable as a kid and hang out with my Papa while he was training the horses. When I was invited to watch a horse riding competition, I got so fascinated with riding!