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How Do Tones of Voice Affect a Horse's Heart Rate and Reaction?

CSEF · 2016 Mammalian Biology

Ellie M. Knight · Fairmont Elementary School, Sanger, Fresno County

Overview

Objectives/Goals The objective of this study is to find out if a humans tone of voice can affect a horse's heart rate. Methods/Materials Took each horse's resting heart rate. Talked to each horse in calming tone. Took heart rate and recorded data. Repeated 6 trials. Repeated 6 trials with 3 different audio tones. 5 horses, stethoscope, 4-5 people including me, measured horse's heart rates to different audio tones. Results Yes, tones of voice do affect a horse's heart rate and reaction, but there is another variable that comes in to play. That variable is trust. If a horse is familiar or trusts a person then the difference in the heart rate and reaction is small compared to when they do not trust a person. Conclusions/Discussion Repeated trials with multiple horses revealed that if the horse trusts you there will not be as much of a difference in heart rate or reaction as a horse that does not trust you.

Summary statement

If a horse does not trust a person, when the horse is talked to by that person the horse's heart rate and reaction will be higher than a horse that does not trust a person.

Help received

My grandfather showed me how to take a horse's heart rate.

Competition history

  • CSEF 2016 Mammalian Biology · Entry J1216

Resources

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