Is there any evidence that horses respond to music?

Walk on to most yards or stables and you are almost certain to find a radio blasting out some tunes, usually for the benefit of the human occupants; but what do our horses think of our musical tastes? Is there any evidence that they have feelings for or against music?

So, as we can see, we should not ban the radio from the yard, although perhaps reasonably peaceful music is more appropriate than some loud rock! 

There is some evidence that music can help our horses to relax a little, at least in the short term. In terms of our own horses, undergoing periods of stress, or box rest, massage and music may help to improve their quality of life a little, but including other experiences such as more time outside, if possible and greater interaction with other horses will also be beneficial. In addition, we must not forget about reducing other stressors like pain. Please speak to your vet about ways to reduce stress and to identify any physical issues that may be contributing to pain or low mood in your horse.