Horses, this one mammal is already familiar in human life. Animals that have long tails are indeed easy to find in almost every country in the world except Antarctica because of the unfavorable climate. This animal is one of the most important pets economically and historically and has played an important role in the transportation of people and goods for thousands of years. Even in the era of advanced technology, horses are still one of the favorites to just let go of fatigue or pursue a hobby of riding.
Usually, when talking about pets, they are synonymous with cats and dogs, but do you know that horses can be used as pets and have benefits?
Humans began domesticating horses around 4000 BC, and their domestication is believed to have been widespread by 3000 BC.
"Pets provide a major buffer against stress"
This seems to be true from a psychological perspective, you can take control of the problems in life when dealing with the larger creatures that you feel while riding a horse. Gives the impression of calm and optimism that you are capable of dealing with problems even though they are large and seem impossible to deal with. No wonder horses are often used as a healing therapy. According to a 2014 study, horses can reduce stress hormones in children. Horseback riding also helps with self-control and balance.
"Pets make you less lonely"
Humans can interact with their pets when there is no social interaction, especially during the Covid 19 pandemic which requires us to limit social contact with other people. Interacting with pets can help with feelings of loneliness. Especially horses which are like humans, horses are social creatures. Horses in the wild live in groups, and to communicate with each other they use not only voices but facial expressions as well. National Geographic says that horses can display 17 different facial expressions to communicate with each other. Also, horses can even communicate with their ears. Horses can move their ears to tell other horses where to look. This is important for telling the location of food sources or avoiding predatory threats.
So do you want a horse as a pet? Write it in the comments below!
References:
Kompas. (2015). 5 Hewan Peliharaan yang Berdampak Menyehatkan. Retrieved 8 December 2020.