In animal assisted therapy, horses may aid the treatment of patients with substance use disorders by boosting mood and quality of life

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• University of Helsinki · May 13, 2026 The first domesticated horses: 6,000 years of a complex story

  New research reveals that humans used horses in organized ways as early as the 4th millennium BCE, challenging the accepted timeline of full domestication. The study's findings suggest a more complex and nuanced history of human-horse relationships, highlighting the significant impact of horses on major historical developments.

• PLOS · Jan 14, 2026 Horses can smell fear: In experiments where horses smelled sweat from scared humans, they reacted to scary and sudden events with increased fear and reduced human interaction

  In experiments, horses demonstrated a strong response to sweat from scared humans, exhibiting increased fear and avoidance behaviors. The study found that horses can smell human emotional odors, influencing their behavior and physiology

• Cardiff University · May 17, 2024 Pagan-Christian trade networks supplied horses from overseas for the last horse sacrifices in Europe

  Research from Cardiff University reveals that horses were sourced from Scandinavia using extensive trade networks, contrary to previous theories that stallions were locally-sourced. Genetic analysis shows that one in three sacrificed horses were mares, suggesting prestige played a key role in their selection.

• Texas A&M University · Sep 19, 2024 Researchers discover gene variants that determine speed of graying in horses

  A study published in Nature Communications found that the number of copies of a small DNA sequence within the gray coat gene determines how fast a horse turns gray and whether it becomes white or gray. Horses with two copies of the duplication have slow-graying genes, while those with three copies develop into fast-graying horses.

• American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) · Mar 27, 2025 Unique genetic mutation underlies horses’ exceptional athleticism

  Researchers have discovered a key genetic mutation in the KEAP1 gene that enables horses to produce more energy while protecting against cellular damage. This adaptation, found in modern horses, donkeys, and zebras, involves a premature stop codon that is efficiently recoded into a functional cysteine residue.

• American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) · Aug 28, 2025 Revealed: Genetic shifts that helped tame horses and made them rideable

  A recent study of ancient horse genomes has shed light on the genetic changes that contributed to making horses tame, strong, and rideable by humans. The research found that selective breeding practices, particularly at the GSDMC locus, enabled horses to meet human demands for mobility and warfare.