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Horses can read human expressions, study finds
horse
Research has previously shown that many species, including dogs, view negative events with their left eye. (stock photo)

Reactions to photographs studied by psychologists

Horses are able to distinguish between happy and angry human facial expressions, according to a study by the University of Sussex.

Psychologists studied the reactions of 28 horses when they were shown photographs of happy and angry human faces.

When they saw the angry faces, the horses looked more with their left eye - a behaviour that is associated with viewing negative stimuli.

Research has previously shown that many species, including dogs, view negative events with their left eye. Information seen with the left eye is processed by the right brain hemisphere, which specialises in processing threatening stimuli.

While looking at the photographs of angry faces, the horses' heart-rate also increased more quickly and they showed more stress-related behaviours.

Researchers say this effect of facial expressions on heart rate has not been seen before in interactions between humans and animals.

"It's interesting to note that the horses had a strong reaction to the negative expressions but less so to the positive," said researcher Amy Smith, a doctoral student at the Mammal Vocal Communication and Cognition Research Group.

"This may be because it is particularly important for animals to recognise threats in their environment. In this context, recognising angry faces may act as an early warning system, allowing horses to anticipate negative human behaviour such as rough handling."

Co-lead author Karen McComb said horses may have developed an ancestral ability to pick up on emotional signals in other horses, to respond appropriately to human facial expressions.

"Alternatively, individual horses may have learned to interpret human expressions during their own lifetime," she added. "What’s interesting is that accurate assessment of a negative emotion is possible across the species barrier despite the dramatic difference in facial morphology between horses and humans."

Further work by the team will examine the relationship between a range of emotional skills and social behaviour.

Read the full study here: http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/12/2/20150907

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.