Can Horses Have Autism?

The other day while out on a trail ride, my horse spotted a tractor in the distance.

He immediately froze and became distressed, and it took a while to get him to move again.

Once back at the barn, I told another rider what had happened.

She said she had heard of horses doing that, and coupled with other behaviors my horse displayed, like rocking and spinning in circles, there was a similarity to how autism presented in humans.

Her comment surprised me as I had never considered that before, and it made me wonder, “Can horses have autism?”

It is not yet possible to know definitively if a horse can have autism. Studies show that horses’ brains are similar to human’s with the same chemical neurotransmitters, so in theory, a horse can develop autism. Unfortunately, there is no testing available to make an autism diagnosis, but symptoms in some horses can show similarities.

If you have noticed your horse displaying strange behaviors, you may have chalked it up to them being “odd” or “quirky.”

Is it possible, though, that those symptoms can have a deeper diagnosis?

If horses can have autism, how would you know if your horse has it or not?

Are there other explanations for your horse’s behavior?

For the answers to these questions and more, just keep reading.

Can Horses Present Autistic Behaviors?

Although it isn’t possible to test horses for autism, it’s not uncommon to hear an owner comment on the strange behavior their horse exhibits.

Many of these behaviors bear a striking resemblance to how an autistic child may respond to different stimuli.

For example, some horses have repetitive behaviors like rocking and spinning in place and tail grabbing.

Certain sensory items like plastic bags or blinking lights may also transfix the horse the way it would a person with autism.

Some horses may also have trouble processing new surroundings to the point that they become a danger to themselves and those around them.

Owners report horses becoming completely uncontrollable when encountering a foreign object in an otherwise familiar setting.

They may begin bucking, rearing, biting, or may run away without regard to the dangers they could run into around them.

The owners say it is as though the horse is no longer aware of its surroundings, and its flight reflex takes control.

Others report their horse freezes when faced with a new object and go into an almost comatose state, even though they are fully awake.

They hyper-fixate on the object until the owner can finally distract them.

They may also tremble and tense their muscles uncontrollably.

Humans with autism can record similar behaviors.

Knowing that horses can present autistic-like symptoms may make you wonder if they have autism or if there is there another possible explanation?

Other Possible Causes Of Autism-Like Behavior

In the wild, horses are pack animals and are constantly scanning their surroundings for predators.

Although domesticated, they still have this instinct alive and well inside of them.

It’s easy for humans to understand the difference between litter on the side of the road and a predator, but horses can’t always process the difference.

In their minds, it can be an animal lying in wait to attack them.

The same goes for wind in the trees; in a horse’s mind, it may be a creature ready to pounce.

If your horse is jumpy and reacts negatively to something newly introduced to their daily routine, it doesn’t necessarily mean they may be autistic.

The horse may be exhibiting typical fight or flight behavior that all horses are predisposed to have. Horse biology mimics autistic-like behavior many times, and these actions can include being hyper-alert and fear-based responses.

Horses are also social creatures and need to have correct socialization from an early age.

If not, the horse may become detached and unable to socialize even with humans properly.

There are also possible medical reasons that can cause your horse to show autistic-like symptoms, along with the biological ones.

Some newborn foals are known to present behaviors such as detachment, failure to recognize their mother, and lack of interest in nursing.

Commonly known as “dummy foal syndrome,” these foals retain a high level of neurosteroids after birth.

During gestation, neurosteroids are released in the foal’s brain to help it remain calm and almost in a sedated state.

By the time it’s born, all of these neurosteroids have dissipated, and the foal can behave normally.

Sometimes, however, they continue to secrete them, and the foal can display the above behaviors.

Recent studies show these same neurosteroids present in children with autism.

Although not enough data to come to any conclusive analysis, these findings are fascinating.

Another possible explanation is Sensory Processing Disorder or SPD.

When a horse suffers from SPD, it is sensitive to stimulants and can react strongly.

The reason for these reactions comes from the horse’s inability to receive and respond appropriately to the incoming stimuli from its five senses.

In other words, the horse becomes over-stimulated.

You can treat a horse with SPD by limiting the amount of external exposure it receives and using products like blinders to help them filter out excess information.

Although horses can show similar signs of autism as humans, there is no way to know if they can have the disorder.

Promising studies are getting closer to figuring this mystery out but are not there yet.

If your horse displays autistic-like symptoms, including repetitive rocking, spinning in place, tail-chasing, hyper-alertness, or fear-based reactions, they may suffer from a similar condition such as SPD.

It is important to remember that horses are biologically predisposed to act in ways humans consider “odd.”

These actions do not mean anything is necessarily wrong with your horse, and by taking the time to learn how to care for them properly, you can still have a loving and fulfilling relationship.