A Tranquil Trot: Music Helps Reduce Stress in Horses

Boehringer Ingelheim releases music track, advice to help horse owners manage equine moments of stress

DULUTH, Ga. (June 29, 2021) — Boehringer Ingelheim is focused on helping keep horses safe and “sound” when it comes to stress with the release of a music track specially designed to help reduce stress in horses. Research shows stress can quickly turn into equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS), with one study showing horses can develop stomach ulcers in as few as five days.1

The musical arrangement features soothing music designed with the horse in mind. The track was created by Janet Marlow, sound behaviorist, composer, researcher and founder of Pet Acoustics Inc. Marlow focused on creating rhythms and melodies composed for the listening comfort of the horse, including specific pitch, tone and frequencies. Studies show that playing music can help balance equine behavior because it helps mask outside sounds and vibrations, as well as provide a positive and relaxing effect.2

“When Boehringer Ingelheim expressed an interest in doing something to help manage stress in horses, I was extremely interested based on my research in this area,” said Janet Marlow, founder of Pet Acoustics. “It’s all about composing music and modifying the decibel and frequency levels of each note for the comfortable hearing range of the animal. Using this process, we have tested music through clinical studies at veterinary hospitals, barns, etc. to see the music elicit a release of physical tensions and stress behaviors.”2

To access it, veterinarians and horse owners can visit https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoekmWDxfuaOGuL1ELoPIGQ/videos. Visitors will be able to play the music track and video, as well as gain access to additional resources on stress, EGUS, and ways to help prevent it.

This includes information on the use of Ulcergard® (omeprazole), to help reduce the creation of acid in a horse’s stomach during times of stress, helping to maintain optimal gastric health. For ulcer prevention, horses should be given ULCERGARD once daily during these stressful periods. ULCERGARD is the only prevention for equine gastric ulcers that is proven to be safe, effective and approved by the FDA.

ULCERGARD IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: ULCERGARD can be used in horses that weigh at least 600 lbs. Safety in pregnant mares has not been determined. Not for use in humans. Keep this and all medications out of the reach of children. In case of ingestion, contact a physician.

For horses, stress is no one thing. It can include a variety of triggers, including fireworks, thunderstorms/weather, rigorous training, competitions, travel/trailering, competitions, dehydration, limited forage, changes in daily routine, isolation, new stall neighbor, illness, etc.

“These may seem like small changes or events, but they can create big issues for horses, potentially leading to gastric ulcers,” says Sarah Reuss, VMD, DACVIM, Equine Technical Manager for Boehringer Ingelheim. “Often times horse owners either don’t know how or are just unable to take the proper proactive steps to limit the impact of stress on the gastric health of the animal. Creating a more positive environment through the use of music and adding ULCERGARD when stress can’t be avoided can help minimize the impact.”

To learn more about EGUS prevention, visit https://m.info.boehringer-ingelheim.ca/webApp/Equine_Ulcergard_Index.

References

1McClure SR, Carithers DS, Gross SJ, Murray MJ. Gastric ulcer development in horses in a simulated show or training environment. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2005;227(5):775-777.
2Kędzierski, W., Janczarek, I., Stachurska, A., & Wilk, I. (2017). Massage or music meant to be relaxing, result in lowering salivary cortisol concentration in race horses. Pferdeheilkunde Equine Medicine, 33(2), 146–151. https://doi.org/10.21836/pem20170206.

Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health
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Making new and better medicines for humans and animals is at the heart of what we do. Our mission is to create breakthrough therapies that change lives. Since its founding in 1885, Boehringer Ingelheim has been independent and family owned. We have the freedom to pursue our long-term vision, looking ahead to identify the health challenges of the future and targeting those areas of need where we can do the most good.

As a world-leading, research-driven pharmaceutical company, with around 52,000 employees, we create value through innovation daily for our three business areas: Human Pharma, Animal Health, and Biopharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing.

In 2020, Boehringer Ingelheim achieved net sales of around $22.33 billion (19.57 billion euros). Our significant investment of over $4.2 billion (3.7 billion euros) in 2020 (18.9% of net sales) in R&D drives innovation, enabling the next generation of medicines that save lives and improve quality of life.

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Printed in International Animal Health Journal (volume 8, issue 4), published in 2021.

At the beginning of training routine, young racehorses are exposed to stressful stimuli. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of a relaxing massage which the horses received in the stable, and the influence of music piped into the stable, on the long- lasting stress level of the horses. 120 Purebred Arabian horses were studied. They were examined during the first racing season, which lasted for six months.

At the beginning of the study, the horses were 28–31 months old. The horses were brought to S!uÊewiec Horse Race Track (Warsaw, Poland) from their familiar studs and were randomly assigned to music (n=48), massage (n=48), or control (n=24) groups. All horses were regularly trained and competed in official races. Once a month, saliva samples were collected from each horse to determine the cortisol concentration. Both music and massage resulted in significantly lower salivary cortisol concentration compared to the control treatment.

We see them move to music through Dressage routines. As riders, we partner with our rhythmic friends eliciting their tempos in two and three beats, walking, trotting and galloping, defining the equine species as one of nature’s musicians. The equine hearing range is higher than human hearing. Our human frequency hearing range is 20Hz to 20,000Hz. The frequency hearing range of a horse is 55Hz to 33,500Hz. In fact, horses and humans share the most closely related hearing ranges than any other mammals on the planet. A whisper in their ear from your voice or a personalised whistle from the barn to come in from the field is a significant part of the deep bond with our horses and strong connection through sound. This understanding has been an integral part of the research of Pet Acoustics Inc. with the innovation of a special speaker system that modifies sound disbursement for animal hearing and specifically designed science-based music for dogs, cats and horses by Janet Marlow, internationally recognised composer and Sound Behaviourist.

In 2015, a two-year study was initiated by Witold K#dzierski1, Iwona Janczarek, Anna Stachurska and Izabela Wilk of the Department of Biochemistry, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Lublin, Poland Department of Horse Breeding and Use, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Lublin, Poland. The study used the Pet Acoustics speaker and Janet Marlow’s equine specific music in the following study.

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Introduction

Young Purebred Arabian horses in Poland are routinely submitted to race training. At the age of 2.5 years, they are moved from familiar studs to an unfamiliar race training centre. Much of the stimuli accumulated at the beginning of the training routine is associated with transport, change of residence, physical effort and participation in races, and can elicit chronic stress in horses (Alexander and Irvine 1998). Moreover, the commercialisation of racetracks alters the living conditions towards circumstances inconsistent with the biology of horses (MacTaggart et al. 2010). Keeping a racehorse in a box for most of the day, results in restricted freedom of movement (Henderson 2007). An unfamiliar environment, isolation, and short feed intake can also deepen the stress level (Waters et al. 2002). It is known that long- lasting stress has a negative influence on the organism. The factors generating stress in trained horses, however, can only be partially eliminated. Therefore, negative factors should be controlled and their effects should be mitigated (Evans 2003). Various relaxing methods may be used, e.g. free movement in the paddocks, massage and music. Massage promotes general body relaxation and increases the sense of an animal's well-being (Scott and Swenson 2009). In horses, the heart rate measured during and immediately after a massage was reduced, and improved behavioural responses were noted (McBride et al. 2004). Horses are generally sensitive to music. The most visible sign of the influence of music on horses is the horse’s ability to synchronise their movement to musical rhythm (Bregman et al. 2012). According to Carter and Greening (2012), the effect of the music on a horse’s behaviour depends on the music genre. Stachurska et al. (2015) showed that relaxation music positively affected the emotional state in racehorses. However, little is known how these kinds of relaxation methods reduce long-lasting stress in racehorses (Scott and Swenson 2009).

The most common approach used to evaluate the stress level in horses is measuring cortisol release (Peeters et al. 2010, Schmidt et al. 2010a, b). The cortisol is a natural glucocorticoid hormone synthesised by the adrenal cortex, which in turn, is stimulated by sympathetic nervous system activity. The main function of the hormone is to increase blood glucose level during effort and stressful conditions. In horses, the blood plasma cortisol concentration reflects not only the response to exertion (Desmecht et al. 1996, Nagata et al. 1999) but also the mental stress level (Cayado et al. 2006, Fazio et al. 2008). In recent years, in cortisol determination, more attention has been devoted to saliva sampling. This form of sampling is less stressful for the horse than blood sampling (Peeters et al. 2010, 2011). The level of the saliva cortisol correlates well with its level in the blood (van der Kolk 2001, Peeters et al. 2011, Bohak et al. 2013). The salivary cortisol concentration was successfully used as an indicator of the stress level in horses in response to stabling (Harewood 2005), road transport (Schmidt et al. 2010a, b) and exercise (K#dzierski et al. 2013, 2014a). A significant increase in the salivary cortisol concentration was stated in naïve horses during the initial training. The increase was particularly significant in response to mounting by a rider (Schmidt et al. 2010a, K#d- zierski et al. 2014b). Thus, measuring the cortisol concentration in saliva samples was assumed to be a useful marker of mental stress in horses.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of a relaxation massage, and music piped into the stable, on the horse’s long-lasting stress level gauged with the salivary cortisol concentration.

Dr. Reuss attending to a horse with Pet Tunes Equine music.

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Organization of Horse Groups

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Race Performance Parameters

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Materials and Methods

This article presents data collected within a larger research project designed to determine the influence of chosen relaxation techniques on the emotional state of young racehorses. The study tested the hypothesis that relaxation techniques such as massage and music used over a long period of time, decrease the salivary cortisol concentration in racehorses.

Horses

In the study, 120 Purebred Arabian horses were examined over two years: 57 horses in the first year and 63 in the second year. All the horses participated in the study during their first racing season. Each horse was studied for six months, which covered the full race season for three-year old Purebred Arabian horses. At the beginning of the study, the horses were 28–31 months old. The horses were brought to S!uÊewiec Horse Race Track (Warsaw, Poland) from their familiar studs about three months earlier to acclimatise to the new conditions. After a month of acclimatisation, the horses began the initial training. On the first few days, they were bridled and saddled inside their boxes. Next, they were walked and trotted in an automated horse walker for 30 minutes a day. After that, the horses were mounted. The caretaker held the reins and another caretaker assisted the rider to first lay over the back of the horse and then to move to a sitting position in the saddle. This initial training lasted nine to twelve days, depending on the horse's behaviour. Finally, the riders walked and trotted the horses in a paddock for 30 minutes a day for about six weeks.

The horses were randomly divided into three groups: control group (n=24), music group which listened to music meant to be relaxing (n=48), and massage group (n=48) which regularly received a relaxing massage for about 30 minutes, three days a week. The only criterion of dividing the horses into the groups was that the groups were to include a similar number of mares and stallions. During the whole testing period, the horses were housed in four stables under comparable social and environmental conditions. Each horse was kept in a box stall measuring 3.5 m $ 4 m. Straw bedding allowed the horse to comfortably lie down. To reduce the influence of nonspecific factors on the animal’s emotional reaction, all the horses were fed the same diet according to dietary guidelines and cared for by the same caretakers in a manner which was typical for racehorses. This means that all

horses had equal exposure to all the caretakers. To minimise the influence of the year and stable factors, the experiment was arranged in a manner shown in Table 1. For the first year of the study, the massage was introduced in stables 1 and 2, and the music in stables 3 and 4. The schedule was revised in the second year of the study. The control group also continued in respective stables in the consecutive years.

Before the study, all of the horses were clinically sound according to a veterinarian. All the horses showed normal behaviour according to the trainer. Not all of the horses remained in training for the whole racing season because, in some cases, the owners decided to end their horse’s career before the end of the season. Thus, the number in the data for each month was lower than the number of horses included in a group, and amounted to 62.5%–89.6%.

Sound Behaviorist and Founder of Pet Acoustics, Janet Marlow.

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Training and Racing

The experiment was performed according to the regular race-training schedule, and for two race seasons. The training sessions were performed for about one hour a day, six days a week. The riders saddled the horses then walked the horses for approximately 10 minutes as a warm-up exercise. The primary race training was conducted on the sand track. The speed and duration were individually adapted to the level of each horse’s performance. An exception was made for the measurement days. On the measurement days, each horse had to cover a distance of 1800m at a speed of 6.4m/s. After the exercise, the horses were put on an automatic horse walker for 45 minutes. At the end of the third month of the study, the horses started to compete in official races at least once a month. A day before and two days after the race, the horses were only given 60 minutes of exercise in the automatic walker. On those days, they were not examined. All persons included in the training and maintaining of the studied horses didn’t know the purpose of the study.

At the end of both race seasons, the horses’ performance was estimated with four parameters based on official race records: (1) number of races, in which a horse won; (2) prize per race, i.e. sum of prizes won to the number of races a horse took part; (3) success coefficient, i.e. sum of prizes won by a horse to sum of prizes won by all horses at the same age in respective race season; (4) general handicap, i.e. theoretical weight (in kg) a horse should carry in a race to equal the horse’s chance to win the race, with the chances of other horses at the same age.

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Figure 1 Salivary cortisol level determined at rest in studied groups of horses during following months of the training season (means ‡ SD). 1, 2, 3 ... = following months of the study; * = means in Control Group differ significantly in comparison to other groups; += mean in massage group is significantly different than in music group.

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Listening to Music

For approximately five hours a day, the music group listened to music piped into their stalls. The music was played in the stable from 1 to 6 o’clock p.m. The music used was specifically composed and recorded by Janet Marlow, a specialist in the scientific use of music for animals. The rhythms and sound frequency of each composition were specifically composed to be within the sensitivity of the equine hearing range (Saslow 2002, Wells 2009). The relaxation music contained 10 tracks of equine-specific music, composed by Janet Marlow, Sound Behaviourist and Founder of Pet Acoustics. The music was heard in the stable through a special sound speaker device:

My Pet Speaker®, Pet Acoustic Inc, Connecticut, USA) also designed to be within the range of horse-hearing. The speaker system design limits sound frequencies into 200 Hz ~ 12 KHz and features a soft bass designed for equine listening comfort. The speaker also disbursed the music in 360 degrees resonating from the four open areas of the top of the speaker. The equine music by Janet Marlow was played every day in the “Repeat All” mode. The volume was set in the mid-range; at about 65–70 decibels. The equine hearing comfort levels are between 60–80 decibels in general.

The results of the massage group were significantly lower than the results for the music group. To simplify the graphs, in both Figures, the values of SD are presented as only upper or lower bars, nevertheless, each value of SD above the mean was equal with those below the mean.

The race performance parameters are presented in Table 2. Horses in the massage group achieved better results than those in the control group with regard to the number of races won, prize per race and success coefficient. Music group had significantly higher prize per race than the control group. All the studied performance parameters did not significantly differ between music and massage groups.

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Figure 2 Salivary cortisol level determined after the end of training sessions in studied groups of horses during following months of the training season (means + SD). 1, 2, 3 ...= following months of the study; * = means in Massage Group are significantly different than in Control Group; + - means in Massage Group differ significantly, in comparison to Music Group.

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Discussion

The results of the present study clearly show that both stress-coping methods (music meant to be relaxing in the stable and relaxing massage), brought positive effects. Introducing those methods significantly decreased the release of cortisol. The amount of cortisol was estimated on the basis of the salivary cortisol concentration. The use of this kind of stress-level estimation is commonly accepted in current research (Schmidt et al. 2010 a and b, Peeters et al. 2010).

The most interesting results concerned the determination of the cortisol level in saliva samples, taken at rest. The lack of differences in the first measurement taken at rest, showed that, as was expected, the three groups showed similar cortisol levels at the beginning of the study. The similarity of the groups was in accordance with the trainer’s opinion on the normal behaviour of all of the horses. Both of the relaxation methods significantly decreased the cortisol release as compared to the control group, during the whole racing season, excluding the fifth month of the study. It is worth noticing that the massage was performed after the training sessions, so the horses were massaged at noon, and they listened to music in the afternoon. The horses were investigated at rest, in the early morning, hence the influence of the relaxation methods was analysed many hours after the relaxation treatments. Our results indicate the long-lasting effect of the relaxation methods on the salivary cortisol level in the racehorses. The positive effect the massage had on the salivary cortisol level determined just after a treatment, was described earlier (Scott and Swenson 2009). In another study, massage reduced the stress level which had been evaluated on the basis of heart rate and behaviour of the horses also during a treatment (McBride et al. 2004). In the fifth month of the study, the horses which listened to music had a significantly higher salivary cortisol concentration than those horses which received a massage. An analysis of heart rate variability in horses which listened to relaxation music, also showed that the effectiveness of this method decreased after some months of the treatment (Stachurska et al. 2015). Perhaps animals get accustomed to the music as time passes. Moreover, the horses in general get accustomed to the training. A tendency to decrease in resting cortisol values was seen in the control group during the study. Thus, probably, the salivary cortisol concentration dropped in the music group in the sixth measurement in comparison to the fifth measurement, because of a general tendency to adapt to the environment. However, the adaptation effects of long-lasting music treatment in humans and animals have been studied less. In fact, many reports describe beneficial effects of short-time use of relaxing music (Kıyıcı et al. 2013, Bowman et al. 2015, Linnemann et al. 2015, 2016).

The analysis of those salivary cortisol samples taken after the daily training sessions, and taken in the fifth and sixth month of the study, showed the clear positive effect of the massage treatment over the music treatment. Exercise performed by racehorses during training increases the salivary cortisol concentration (K#dzierski et al. 2013, 2014a), however, endurance exercise has a stronger effect (Desmecht et al. 1996). Some studies suggest that salivary cortisol level determined after exercise, can indicate the relative intensity of exercise in racehorses (K#dzierski et al. 2013). Generally, the intensity of exercise increases with the duration of training. Therefore, the values of salivary cortisol obtained after the end of training sessions tended to increase, especially in control and music groups. In the following months of the study, we compared horses which were subjected to similar amounts of intensive exercise. Thus, the differences in the salivary cortisol concentration found between massage group and other groups were the evident effect of the massage treatment. Listening to music only appears to influence mental relaxation in the horses, whereas massage has an effect on both the mental and muscle relaxation (Haussler 2009). It is not surprising that the estimated cortisol release after physical activity showed that massage brought more beneficial effects than the music. From the economic and management point of view, though, providing music is much easier than providing a relaxing massage.

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Conclusion

In conclusion, both the relaxation massage and the music treatment significantly decreased the cortisol release in Purebred Arabian horses trained for racing. The massage treatment gave better results than listening to music which was meant to be relaxing. Playing music, though, being easier to provide, may be widely introduced to improve the welfare and performance of racehorses.

Funding Statement

The Polish National Centre for Research and Development (grant number 180061) sponsored this study.

Citation

Kedzierski W., Janczarek I., Stachurska A., Wilk I. (2017) Massage or music meant to be relaxing, result in lowering salivary cortisol concentration in race horses. Pferdeheilkunde 33, 146-151; DOI 10.21836/PEM20170206

Correspondance

Witold Kedzierski PhD, Department of Biochemistry, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 12, 20-033 Lublin, Poland; email

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Contributor

Janet Marlow

Founder and Sound Behaviorist, Pet Acoustics

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Ep. 161: Enhancing pet health with species-specific music that calms anxiety and improves behavior; with Janet Marlow. MINDY PETERSON, NCTM Music Educator & Podcast Host

My guest today is Janet Marlow, a fifth-generation musician and “sound behaviorist” who has done ground-breaking scientific research on how sound and music can affect anxiety and behavior in pets. Janet has used this research to create clinically proven calming music specific to various species. Her research has also led to a global brand, Pet Acoustics Inc. Pet Acoustics is known as a leader for contributing to animal welfare. And its award-winning products have helped thousands of pets and pet parents, veterinarians, and rescue shelters worldwide.

https://mpetersonmusic.com/podcast/episode161

Janet Marlow, CEO of Pet Acoustics and Rigby “Official Sound Tester”

Notes

We discuss:

• Why stress reduction and relaxation is so important for our pets’ overall health and well-bing.

• How the sound world of humans differs from the sound world of our pets.

• The unique considerations or features that are taken into account when creating music specifically for animals.

• Janet’s scientific studies are peer-reviewed and published in veterinary science publications.

• Pet Acoustics’ latest product.

• Janet’s latest piece, Equine Relax Trax, is designed specifically for horses. Horses are incredibly susceptible to stress, which leads to costly gastrointestinal problems. 90% of racetrack horses have ulcers, and 75% to 80% of performance horses do too.

• Janet’s books and products, including free

Connect/Other Resources

• Facebook: facebook.com/PetAcoustics

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theofficialpetacoustics/

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/petacoustics

• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@petacoustics

• Janet’s LinkedIn profile

• Pet Acoustics playlists avail on Spotify and all other streaming platforms.

• Janet Marlow Radio station on Spotify offers classical and jazz for humans.

• Janet’s books:

  • What Dogs Hear: Understanding Canine Hearing and Behavior From Puppy to Senior (2020)

  • Zen Dog, Music & Massage for a Stress-Free Pet (2008)

  • The Magic of Music for Pets (2007)

  • “Dogs and Cats Hear Much, Much More!” (2010)

• Pet Acoustics products available on Amazon and Pet Acoustics website

• FREE Home Pet Hearing Test available on Pet Acoustics website

• Janet’s blog

Mindy Peterson is a Podcast Host (Enhance Life with Music), Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM), and music advocate who has been a music educator since 1991.

Mindy is the Arts Advocacy Chair of the Minnesota Music Teachers Association (MMTA) and a member of Music Teachers National Association (MTNA).

Do dogs see colors?

Yes, dogs do see colors, but their color perception is different from that of humans. Dogs have fewer color receptors in their eyes than humans, which means they can only see two primary colors: blue-violet and yellow-green. This is a condition known as dichromatic vision. In contrast, humans have trichromatic vision, which means we can see the full spectrum of colors.

Because of their limited color vision, dogs see the world in shades of blue and yellow. Colors such as red, orange, and green appear as shades of yellow or gray to them. However, dogs have excellent visual acuity and can detect even subtle changes in movement and contrast, which is why they are such great hunters and trackers.

Do cats see colors?

Yes, cats do see colors.  Like dogs, cats also have dichromatic vision, which means they can only see two primary colors: blue and green. They do not have the ability to see reds or oranges, which appear as shades of gray or brown to them.

Despite their limited color vision, cats have excellent night vision and can see well in low light conditions. They also have a wider field of view than humans, with their eyes positioned more toward the sides of their head, giving them a 200-degree field of view compared to the human's 180-degree field of view. This wide field of view helps them to detect movement and avoid predators while hunting.

What is dichromatic vision in animals

Dichromatic vision is a type of color vision in animals that is characterized by the ability to perceive only two primary colors. In dichromatic vision, the eyes have two types of color receptors, also known as cones, that are sensitive to different wavelengths of light. The most common form of dichromatic vision in animals is the ability to see shades of blue and green.

This type of color vision is found in many animals, including dogs, cats, and most other mammals. Dichromatic vision is thought to be an evolutionary adaptation that allows these animals to see important visual cues in their environment, such as the contrast between a predator and its surroundings or the ripeness of fruit.

In contrast, humans have trichromatic vision, which means we have three types of color receptors in our eyes, allowing us to see a full range of colors. This is due to a gene mutation that occurred in early primates, which gave us an advantage in finding ripe fruit and detecting subtle changes in skin color that can indicate emotion or illness in other people.

Do birds see colors?

Yes, most birds have excellent color vision and can see a wider range of colors than humans. Birds have four types of color receptors, or cones, in their eyes compared to the three types found in humans. This means that they can see ultraviolet light and a wider range of colors, including colors that are invisible to humans.

Birds use their color vision to find food, attract mates, and navigate their environment. For example, some species of birds can see the ultraviolet patterns on flowers that guide them to nectar. Other birds use their color vision to recognize the bright colors of other birds and to distinguish between different species.

In addition to their excellent color vision, many birds also have sharp visual acuity and depth perception, which helps them to accurately judge the distance and speed of objects while flying. The combination of these visual abilities allows birds to thrive in their natural environments and play important roles in pollination, seed dispersal, and insect control.

Do horses see colors?

Yes, horses see colors.  Like dogs and cats, horses have dichromatic vision, which means they can only see two primary colors: blue and green. They do not have the ability to see reds or oranges, which appear as shades of gray to them.

Despite their limited color vision, horses have excellent night vision and can see well in low light conditions. They also have a wider field of view than humans, with their eyes positioned on the sides of their head, giving them a 350-degree field of view compared to the human's 180-degree field of view. This wide field of view helps them to detect predators and avoid obstacles while running.

Horses also have a special ability to see motion better than humans, which is thought to be an adaptation for detecting predators in their natural environment. This ability allows them to detect even subtle movements in their environment, such as the flicker of a predator's tail or the movement of a fly on their skin.

Can you keep a light on to calm a dog?

Keeping a light on can be helpful in calming some dogs, especially those who are afraid of the dark or have separation anxiety. Dogs are social animals and often feel comforted by the presence of their human family or other dogs. Keeping a light on can help them feel less isolated and anxious, especially if they are left alone for long periods of time.

However, it is important to keep in mind that dogs are diurnal animals, meaning they are most active during the day and sleep at night. Keeping a bright light on in the room where your dog sleeps can disrupt their natural sleep patterns and may cause them to have difficulty sleeping or resting properly. To avoid this, it is recommended to use a low-level night light or a dimmer switch to create a calm and soothing environment for your dog without disturbing their sleep.

Is light useful for separation anxiety for a dog?

Light can be used as part of an overall strategy to help manage the condition. Separation anxiety is a common behavior disorder in dogs that can cause them to exhibit a range of destructive or anxious behaviors, such as barking, chewing, or trying to escape when left alone.

To help manage separation anxiety in dogs, it is important to create a calm and predictable environment for them. This can include providing them with a comfortable and secure place to sleep, such as a crate or a designated area of the house, and leaving familiar toys, blankets, or other items that have your scent on them.

In some cases, leaving a low-level light on in the room where your dog sleeps can also help reduce their anxiety and make them feel less isolated when you are not there. 

Can light be soothing to cats?

Yes, light can be soothing to cats, especially natural sunlight. Cats are crepuscular animals, which means they are most active during the dawn and dusk hours and often rest during the day. Exposure to sunlight during these times can help regulate their natural sleep-wake cycle and promote relaxation

Changing lights 

If you are considering using changing lights to entertain or stimulate your pet, it is important to monitor their behavior and response to the lights. If your cat seems to enjoy the changing lights and is not showing any signs of stress or discomfort, then it may be a harmless way to provide them with some visual stimulation. However, if your pet is showing signs of stress, such as hiding or becoming agitated, it may be best to discontinue the use of changing lights.

In general, colored soothing lights can be helpful in calming pets, including dogs and cats. Soft, muted colors such as blue, green, and purple can create a relaxing and calming atmosphere, especially when used in conjunction with other calming strategies such as music or aromatherapy.

Colored lights can be used in a variety of ways to create a calming environment for pets. For example, a soft blue or green light can be left on in a quiet room or sleeping area to promote relaxation and reduce anxiety. Similarly, a color-changing lamp or LED strip can be used to create a calming and visually stimulating environment for pets.

It is important to note, however, that some pets may be sensitive to bright or flashing lights, and exposure to these types of lights can cause overstimulation and stress. If you are using colored lights to calm your pet, it is important to monitor their behavior and response to the lights. If your pet seems to enjoy the lights and is not showing any signs of stress or discomfort, then it may be a harmless way to provide them with some visual stimulation. However, if your pet is showing signs of stress or agitation, it may be best to discontinue the use of colored lights.

Overall, colored soothing lights can be a helpful tool in promoting relaxation and reducing anxiety in pets, but it is important to use them carefully and in conjunction with other calming strategies to ensure the best possible results.

Over the past 14 years, Pet Acoustics has set out to show on a biometric basis how our products affect the state of dogs, cats and horses. These studies prove that in their listening environment of Pet Acoustics species-specific music the physical response results in lower cortisol levels, lower pulse rate, higher heart rate variability (HRV) and calmer activity level. The following Pet Acoustics’ biometric study was published and peer reviewed in the International Animal Health Journal. For all of our Pet Acoustics biometric publications, please visit: https://www.researchgate.net/search.Search.html?query=pet+acoustics&type=publication

Horses experience stressful events every day, both big and small. Prolonged periods of stress can lead to undesirable side effects such as equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS).1 Relax Trax is specifically designed to relieve stress in your horse by mimicking the rhythm of a horse's gaits and using string instruments. Listen to animal sound behaviorist and creator of Relax Trax, Janet Marlow talk about the science behind the music with Sarah Reuss, VMD, DACVIM, Equine Technical Manager at Boehringer Ingelheim and Kelly Graber, Associate Director Equine Marketing at Boehringer Ingelheim.

You can download the Relax Trax music track here. To access the music track, veterinarians and horse owners can visit https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoekmWDxfuaOGuL1ELoPIGQ/videos. Visitors will be able to play the music track and video, as well as gain access to additional resources on stress, EGUS, and ways to help prevent it. The audio only version can be accessed at: https://equinerelaxtrax.buzzsprout.com/1835303/9061146-equine-relax-trax.

The musical arrangement features soothing music designed with the horse in mind. The track was created by Janet Marlow, sound behaviorist, composer, researcher and founder of Pet Acoustics Inc. Marlow focused on creating rhythms and melodies composed for the listening comfort of the horse, including specific pitch, tone and frequencies. Studies show that playing music can help balance equine behavior because it helps mask outside sounds and vibrations, as well as provide a positive and relaxing effect.

“When Boehringer Ingelheim expressed an interest in doing something to help manage stress in horses, I was extremely interested based on my research in this area,” said Janet Marlow, founder of Pet Acoustics. “It’s all about composing music and modifying the decibel and frequency levels of each note for the comfortable hearing range of the animal. Using this process, we have tested music through clinical studies at veterinary hospitals, barns, etc. to see the music elicit a release of physical tensions and stress behaviors.

Horses and humans share the most closely related hearing ranges of any other mammals on the planet. The human frequency hearing range is 20Hz to 20,000Hz -- the frequency hearing range of a horse is 55Hz to 33,500Hz. A whisper in his ear, or a personalized whistle from the barn to come in from the field, represent a significant aspect of how we connect to and bond with our horses through sound.

Sounds trigger both positive and negative behaviors in horses. An inability to flee the paddock during a loud thunderstorm can cause high agitation. A sudden jarring noise or shrill frequency can tense muscles, causing stress. Providing the best sonic environment for your horse can be as important as giving him the best veterinary care and diet. One tool you can use to balance his environment is music.

The Equine Network #AskAnnie Podcast Hosted by Annie Kennedy

In Episode 62 I sat down with Dr. Sarah Ruess of Boehringer Ingelheim Equine Health and Janet Marlow of Pet Acoustics to discuss their project, Relax Trax. We discuss how these two masterminds worked together on this project, how horses are impacted by sound, and how Relax Trax can work in conjunction with other products like ULCERGARD. Tune in to hear this awesome conversation and their advice on preventative measures to take to reduce stress in your horse anywhere you like to listen to podcasts or by using the link below:

https://apple.co/38QAP0n

Observing your horse’s ears in response to sound is one of the most insightful key that trigger equine behaviors. Today, caregiving to our animals is evolving to better health and understanding. We are learning more and more how to balance their needs for well-being and sound as a trigger for behavior is an important tool and understanding for their best life!

Purposeful scenarios using Pet Acoustics equine music

While riding – Playing music while you’re on the trail adds an entertaining dimension to riding for you and your horse. However, for safety’ make sure the volume level doesn’t overwhelm your ability to hear what’s going on around you.

In the barn -- Play the music at a moderate level on your sound system. Horses don’t need loud music to experience the sound waves. Position the sound source at approximately ear level or slightly above your horse’s head so he can both feel and hear the music.

During farrier, dental and veterinary visits – These are often not a horse’s favorite experiences, so play music to distract him and diminish anxiety. Music also helps mask sounds from any medical equipment being used.

For massage and grooming -- Horses love to be massaged. Use music to bring your horse into a deeper state of relaxation.

During post-surgery recuperation -- Music is especially beneficial for horses on stall rest while recovering from surgery. It will allow for deeper muscle relaxation during difficult stages of healing.

For trailer transport -- Engine frequencies and vibrations are very potent to equine ears. Music can help him feel a little less anxious, especially when he’s being backed into the trailer.

Masking thunderstorms -- Thunder can reach volumes up to 115 decibels. The horse and human hearing comfort range is 60 to 80 decibels. If thunder is disturbing to you, you’ll understand why it can trigger behaviors of anxiety and flight in your horse.

For therapeutic riding -- Blood pressure studies that compared the cortisol levels of riding horses, racehorses and therapy horses revealed that the latter have the highest levels, which means they have the highest levels of stress. The ability of therapy horses to restrain their behaviors during student/instructor/horse sessions is a remarkable empathic trait, but also physically distressing. Playing calming music during student/horse sessions can make the experience more entertaining while helping the horse feel calmer.

I’m very proud to have collaborated with Boehringer Ingelheim, the second largest animal health business in the world, on an important offering for equine veterinarians and horses owners described in this Blog. Please follow this link to watch the music video for your horse. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66Z1cGh3qi0&t=6s Janet Marlow, Sound Behaviorist and CEO of Pet Acoustics

A Tranquil Trot: Music Helps Reduce Stress in Horses

Boehringer Ingelheim releases music track, advice to help horse owners manage equine moments of stress

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66Z1cGh3qi0&t=6s

DULUTH, Ga. (June 29, 2021) — Boehringer Ingelheim is focused on helping keep horses safe and “sound” when it comes to stress with the release of a music track specially designed to help reduce stress in horses. Research shows stress can quickly turn into equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS), with one study showing horses can develop stomach ulcers in as few as five days.

The musical arrangement features soothing music designed with the horse in mind. The track was created by Janet Marlow, sound behaviorist, composer, researcher and founder of Pet Acoustics Inc. Marlow focused on creating rhythms and melodies composed for the listening comfort of the horse, including specific pitch, tone and frequencies. Studies show that playing music can help balance equine behavior because it helps mask outside sounds and vibrations, as well as provide a positive and relaxing effect.

“When Boehringer Ingelheim expressed an interest in doing something to help manage stress in horses, I was extremely interested based on my research in this area,” said Janet Marlow, founder of Pet Acoustics. “It’s all about composing music and modifying the decibel and frequency levels of each note for the comfortable hearing range of the animal. Using this process, we have tested music through clinical studies at veterinary hospitals, barns, etc. to see the music elicit a release of physical tensions and stress behaviors.”

To access it, veterinarians and horse owners can visit https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoekmWDxfuaOGuL1ELoPIGQ/videos. Visitors will be able to play the music track and video, as well as gain access to additional resources on stress, EGUS, and ways to help prevent it.

This includes information on the use of Ulcergard® (omeprazole), to help reduce the creation of acid in a horse’s stomach during times of stress, helping to maintain optimal gastric health. For ulcer prevention, horses should be given ULCERGARD once daily during these stressful periods. ULCERGARD is the only prevention for equine gastric ulcers that is proven to be safe, effective and approved by the FDA.

ULCERGARD IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: ULCERGARD can be used in horses that weigh at least 600 lbs. Safety in pregnant mares has not been determined. Not for use in humans. Keep this and all medications out of the reach of children. In case of ingestion, contact a physician.

For horses, stress is no one thing. It can include a variety of triggers, including fireworks, thunderstorms/weather, rigorous training, competitions, travel/trailering, competitions, dehydration, limited forage, changes in daily routine, isolation, new stall neighbor, illness, etc.

“These may seem like small changes or events, but they can create big issues for horses, potentially leading to gastric ulcers,” says Sarah Reuss, VMD, DACVIM, Equine Technical Manager for Boehringer Ingelheim. “Often times horse owners either don’t know how or are just unable to take the proper proactive steps to limit the impact of stress on the gastric health of the animal. Creating a more positive environment through the use of music and adding ULCERGARD when stress can’t be avoided can help minimize the impact.”

To learn more about EGUS prevention, visit https://m.info.boehringer-ingelheim.ca/webApp/Equine_Ulcergard_Index.Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health is the second largest animal health business in the world. Boehringer Ingelheim
Making new and better medicines for humans and animals is at the heart of what we do. Our mission is to create breakthrough therapies that change lives. Since its founding in 1885, Boehringer Ingelheim has been independent and family owned. We have the freedom to pursue our long-term vision, looking ahead to identify the health challenges of the future and targeting those areas of need where we can do the most good.

The horse is one of nature’s musicians. We see equines move to music during dressage routines, and as dance partners in inter-species choreography. As riders, we partner with them in tempos of two and three beats while a walk, canter and gallop.

Sound sensitivity

Horses and humans share the most closely related hearing ranges of any other mammals on the planet. The human frequency hearing range is 20Hz to 20,000Hz -- the frequency hearing range of a horse is 55Hz to 33,500Hz. A whisper in his ear, or a personalized whistle from the barn to come in from the field, represent a significant aspect of how we connect to and bond with our horses through sound.

Sounds trigger both positive and negative behaviors in horses. An inability to flee the paddock during a loud thunderstorm can cause high agitation. A sudden jarring noise or shrill frequency can tense muscles, causing stress. Providing the best sonic environment for your horse can be as important as giving him the best veterinary care and diet. One tool you can use to balance his environment is music.

Do horses like listening to music?

Music is a language that involves pitch, tone, frequency and volume. These elements of sound are what horses and other animals use to communicate with; they also help animals assess their environments for survival purposes. In my clinical research, I’ve observed that horses prefer being in a barn with music as opposed to being there with no music. Playing music helps balance equine behavior because it helps mask outside sounds and vibrations, such as tractor engines, high-pitched tools, thunder, and other non-nature sounds.

I’ve discovered that horses respond best to music with short melodies and strong rhythmic patterns. If you're looking for a style of music that fits this criteria, classical or country music played at a low volume will have a positive effect and help calm horses while they’re resting, eating and being groomed in the barn. It’s not so much the style of music, but its frequency and volume that are most important. However, as a leader in the field of equine music for behavioral balance we want you to consider Pet Acoustics. A two year study of the music with 40 horses has been published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science is available with a request to hello@petacoustics.com

Over the past 25 years, starting with dogs and cats, and then horses, I developed a sonic design called species-specific music that provides repeatable and measurable results of calm and balance behavior in animals. For three years, I researched Animal Behavior Studies at Universities around the world collecting data on the frequency hearing ranges of dogs, cats and horses. As a recording artist and having an understanding of how to modify music in my recording studio, over time developed species -specific music. This means composing music and modifying the decibel and frequency levels of each note according to the comfort hearing range of a specific animal. Using this process and then testing the music through clinical studies at veterinarian hospitals, barns, shelters and pet homes, the music elicited a release of physical tensions and stress behaviors.

Species-specific “equine music”, which contains rhythms and melodies composed specifically for their listening comfort, helps them relax in their stalls, stay calm during farrier sessions, and recuperate faster from surgeries. Music is a profound environment for sensitive equine ears!

Behavioral scientists have correlated stress to illness in animals, as well as in people. And music is as soothing to animals as it is for humans. Paying attention to what your horse’s ears are saying and how to appease noise-anxiety should be a part of his care.

Psychoacoustics – the study of sound perception

Psychoacoustics describes psychological and physiological responses to sound. Horses can associate the trigger of comforting music. Talk radio is not as effective because human speech requires analytical interpretation and has little vibrancy to create relaxation in animals. As long as the music is pleasing and calming to your horse, you can play it for ten years and he will not get bored. Humans need variety because we evaluate music through subjective thinking, whereas the equine response to music is an immediate physical evaluation. If the horse feels safe and connected, he will release high alert instincts and feel calmed.

Observing your horse’s ears in response to sound is one of the most insightful key that trigger equine behaviors. Today, caregiving to our animals is evolving to better health and understanding. We are learning more and more how to balance their needs for well-being and sound as a trigger for behavior is an important tool and understanding for their best life!

Purposeful scenarios using Pet Acoustics equine music

While riding – Playing music while you’re on the trail adds an entertaining dimension to riding for you and your horse. However, for safety’ make sure the volume level doesn’t overwhelm your ability to hear what’s going on around you.

In the barn -- Play the music at a moderate level on your sound system. Horses don’t need loud music to experience the sound waves. Position the sound source at approximately ear level or slightly above your horse’s head so he can both feel and hear the music.

During farrier, dental and veterinary visits – These are often not a horse’s favorite experiences, so play music to distract him and diminish anxiety. Music also helps mask sounds from any medical equipment being used.

For massage and grooming -- Horses love to be massaged. Use music to bring your horse into a deeper state of relaxation.

During post-surgery recuperation -- Music is especially beneficial for horses on stall rest while recovering from surgery. It will allow for deeper muscle relaxation during difficult stages of healing.

For trailer transport -- Engine frequencies and vibrations are very potent to equine ears. Music can help him feel a little less anxious, especially when he’s being backed into the trailer.

Masking thunderstorms -- Thunder can reach volumes up to 115 decibels. The horse and human hearing comfort range is 60 to 80 decibels. If thunder is disturbing to you, you’ll understand why it can trigger behaviors of anxiety and flight in your horse.

For therapeutic riding -- Blood pressure studies that compared the cortisol levels of riding horses, racehorses and therapy horses revealed that the latter have the highest levels, which means they have the highest levels of stress. The ability of therapy horses to restrain their behaviors during student/instructor/horse sessions is a remarkable empathic trait, but also physically distressing. Playing calming music during student/horse sessions can make the experience more entertaining while helping the horse feel calmer.

Janet Marlow, a composer, researcher, author, and founder and the global company Pet Acoustics Inc., Marlow is internationally known for her breakthrough contribution to the understanding of animal hearing and how sound and music affect their behavior. Pet Acoustics Inc. award-winning products have been clinically proven and endorsed by veterinarians helping thousands of pets and pet owners worldwide. Entrepreneur Magazine named Pet Acoustics one of the “top 100 companies for brilliant ideas”. To learn more please visit www.petacoustics.com

JANET MARLOW March 31, 2021