Management practices and human-horse relationships are associated with horse personality traits

The human-horse relationship has evolved through centuries of domestication, shaping how horses are managed and interact with people. Horses show interindividual behavioural differences that constitute personality, with implications for welfare, management and human-horse interactions. Although equine personality has a genetic component, environmental and relational factors may influence its expression, yet effects of everyday management practices remain poorly understood. This study examined associations between owner-rated horse personality traits and human-controlled environmental and relationship parameters. Owners completed an online questionnaire (2767 horses) assessing horse personality and collecting data on housing conditions, riding, groundwork frequency, quality time, relationship duration, riders and ownership history, and headgear use. Analyses controlled for intrinsic horse characteristics (age, sex and breed). We identified four personality dimensions: human sociability, horse sociability, attentiveness and neuroticism. Human sociability was positively associated with age, quality time and relationship stability, and negatively associated with multiple owner changes. Horse sociability was associated with housing, with lower scores in singly housed horses. Attentiveness increased with age and riding frequency, while neuroticism was lower in more frequently ridden horses. Overall, personality ratings were associated with intrinsic characteristics and management and relationship factors, highlighting the importance of the human-shaped environment for equine personality and welfare.