«Simply caring for animals is becoming not enough. Horses with altered welfare are more prone to negatively perceive situations, which is a feature of utmost importance for the safety and health of themselves and the people around them. To date, limited research has explored the impacts of handling and human interactions on horses’ health and welfare, focusing mostly on the removal of emotionality. Nevertheless, it is highly recommended that research about handling procedures that promote positive horse–human relationships include the assessment of positive emotions, together with the positive perceptions of animals about their environment and the people around them. Welfare commitment is needed, in order to define the more favorable situations for animals and to promote the best practices. Finally, while raising, handling, training, or preparing horses, we need to understand the way they perceive their environment, the way human actions are assessed, and that these perceptions are different from ours. The present study shows that for horses, a lack of choice about their surroundings is perceived as stressful and greatly affects their mental state and quality of life.»
