Horses also use energy, called chi, to communicate within the herd. In this way they express dominance, and sense predators. Combined with sensing that energy, horses also smell us. According to recent research, when it comes to horses, their sense of smell is really significant.
Since angry, frustrated, and emotionally upset humans release products in their sweat, it may be possible that unintentional olfactory messages can upset or anger the animal as well. (Source: C. A. Sarlow, 2002)
If you are angry or frustrated with your horse, or if you are afraid of him, he will know it, as horses can feel and sense it. You can of course lie to yourself, but you are unable to lie to your horse. They can smell us.
Humans are very visual and progress has been largely developed based on our excellent vision. Horses instead, use their much greater olfactory capabilities. They have a large and prominent nose. The horses nose is an accessory olfactory structure that is largely overlooked by humans until for example, the scent of apple pie links to our limbic system and we recall childhood memories.
Humans sweat and this is how horses know so much about us. Their long nose moves large volumes of air with each breath and consequently, traps a large number of small volatile molecules, the epithelium, of their olfactory bulbs identifies. The horses nose is more sensitive to large specific-species molecules such as the ones found in body secretion. They can pick up pheromones, which are chemicals released by one member of a species and produce hormone-like reaction in another.
Humans release pheromones when they sweat, and we sweat even when we think we don’t. And, so it is perfectly reasonable to assume that horses can smell anger, frustration, fear, etc. It seems that we cannot lie to a horse. They can read us like a book.
One thing I’ve never exactly understood about our horses is when one put his or her muzzle up to my face and just quietly breathes for 3 or 4 breaths. It happens pretty much every day with each horse, with both me and my husband. All I know is that it’s one of the sweetest things on earth and I feel honored. We are vegans and we’ve wondered if they can tell we’re not predators?
Hard to say, Jean. They do it with various people, sick ones, one that struggle with life, etc. But, what I found out over the years and my work with the horses is, if you’re not REAL they will react negatively, e.g. start running around like crazy, start kicking… With REAL I mean if you say or behave other than you are or feel, and wear a mask. The horses sense something is not right and they don’t know how you fit in with the herd. You might be danger to them.