Back Inbox

How can you tell when a horse is feeling stressed? It’s all in the eyes and the way their eyelids twitch, University of Guelph researchers have discovered.

A horse will blink less and twitch its eyelids more when it’s under mild stress, the research team found – a new finding that could offer handlers a simple, easy-to-spot sign their animal is becoming agitated.

The study, published in the journal Animals, is thought to be the first to reveal the significance of eyelid twitches as an indicator of stress, says Prof. Katrina Merkies, the study’s lead author.

The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) is again calling upon the Australian government to implement a nationwide welfare standard and register to protect the welfare of all horses, not just the racehorses. The AVA reinforces that the footage as reported on the ABC's ‘The 7.30 Report’ was highly distressing and strongly condemns the mass slaughter of horses.