Hästens uttryck av känslor i interaktion med människor : kroppsspråk och ansiktsuttryck

Abstract: Many people are interacting with horses in different ways and for different reasons, as a hobby or professionally. Domestic horses are dependent on humans to understand and meet their needs, interpret their expression of emotions to recognize signs of negative emotions, and perhaps equally important, to recognize signs of positive emotions. It is widely accepted in research that animal welfare is more than just the absence of negative emotions, it is also about the presence of positive emotions. This puts a lot of pressure on humans to make sure the horses they take care of have a positive welfare. A review was made on what is currently known about how horses’ express emotions through body language and facial expressions. This was supplemented by a survey asking people actively involved with horses which emotions they think horses can experience, which emotions they have seen horses express, and how much attention they pay to a horse’s expression of emotions when interacting with them. Horses can most likely experience every emotion and mood that humans can. The respondents of the survey did not quite agree with the literature review on which emotions horses can experience. Animals’ emotions and moods are important parts of their welfare, and this is why humans interacting with horses should have knowledge about which emotions they can experience and how they are expressed. To promote positive emotions in horses, humans need knowledge on what brings them out and how to recognize them. To recognize how certain emotions are expressed could also contribute to safer human-horse interactions. Keywords: horse, emotion, mood, facial expression, body language, welfare, interaction, human