Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 33 (2013) 67-69

Journal of Equine Veterinary Science

journal homepage: www.j-evs.com

Short Communication

Effect of Lavender Aromatherapy on Acute-Stressed Horses

Clarence E. Ferguson PhD, Harry F. Kleinman DVM, Justin Browning MS
Department of Agricultural Sciences, McNeese State University, Lake Charles, LA

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: Methods to reduce the effects of acute stress could benefit the equine industry; therefore,
Received 24 January 2012 the objective of this experiment was to determine whether aromatherapy would hasten
Received in revised form the recovery time in acute-stressed horses. A total of seven horses were used in this
10 April 2012
experiment, using a crossover design where each horse received each treatment 7 days
Accepted 24 April 2012
Available online 6 June 2012
apart. The heart rates (HRs) and respiratory rates (RRs) were recorded for each horse at
rest in stalls; then an air horn was blown twice for 15 seconds. The horses were allowed
60 seconds to calm, and then the stressed HRs and RRs were recorded. Control-treated
Keywords:
Aromatherapy
horses were then exposed to humidified air, whereas aromatherapy-treated horses
Lavender were exposed to humidified air with a 20% mixture of 100% pure lavender essential oil for
Stress 15 minutes. Following the 15-minute control or aromatherapy treatment, the recovery
Heart rate HRs and RRs were recorded (15 minutes). There were no statistical differences (P > .05)
Horses between the control and aromatherapy treatment for resting HR 33.7  3.6 versus
34.0  3.1 beats per minute (bpm), or change to increased HR in response to the air horn.
However, the change in HR, after treatment, was significantly greater (P < .02) after
aromatherapy ( 9.25  3.4 bpm) compared with the control treatment (0.29  1.5 bpm).
The RR did not differ (P > .05) between the control or aromatherapy treatment groups for
the resting RR or change in RR. These results demonstrate that lavender aromatherapy
can significantly decrease HR after an acute stress response and signal a shift from the
sympathetic nervous control from the parasympathetic system.
Ó 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction The use of lavender may be a beneficial treatment to

Horses evolved on the prairies of North America [1], and
there they developed a heightened sense of sight and
sound [2]. However, as domesticated work and sport
animals, this excitable instinct in horses often causes
problems to its health during training, especially when
environmental stimuli (e.g., loud noises and novel desti-
nations) causes fear reactions, such as stress, experienced
during hauling [3,4]. The repeated pattern of accumulated
stressors can also result in chronic stress, which is known
to decrease productivity traits in many farm animals [5].
Corresponding author at: Clarence E. Ferguson, PhD, Department
of Agricultural Sciences, McNeese State University, Box 92220, Lake
Charles, LA.
E-mail address: ferguson@mcneese.edu (C.E. Ferguson).
combat the effects of stress experienced by animals during
these events, as lavender has been reported to restore
calmness in dogs [6] and humans [7,8]. Therefore, this
experiment was designed to test the ability of lavender
aromatherapy to decrease equine heart rate (HR) and
respiratory rate (RR) following induced acute stress, and
thereby enhance recovery from stress.
2. Materials and Methods
A total of seven mature Quarter Horses with a mean age
of 7 years were used in this study and were treated in
accordance with McNeese State University Animal Care and
Use Committee guidelines. Horses were randomly assigned
to treatments so that one-half would receive one lavender
treatment first and the other half would receive control
treatment first. Following initial treatment, the horse

0737-0806/$ - see front matter Ó 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.jevs.2012.04.014
68 C.E. Ferguson et al. / Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 33 (2013) 67-69

would receive the other treatment w1 week after the first Table 1
treatment so that each horse received both treatments The changes in heart rate, respiratory rate from stressor to end of
15-minute treatment with lavender or humid air, and initial calm score
(crossover design) within a 2-week period. The HRs and before stressor and treatment
RRs were recorded at rest in a stall ( 1 minute) separated
from others receiving a different treatment at that time; Treatment n Change in Heart Change in Respiratory Initial Calm
Rate (bpm) Rate (brpm) Score
then the halter and lead rope were removed. All HR and RR
recordings were performed under the supervision of Control 7 0.3  1.5a 0.9  2.6a 1.5  0.2a
Lavender 7 9.3  3.4b 3.1  1.5a 1.8  0.3a
a practicing veterinarian. During the time that the initial
a,b
HRs and RRs were being recorded and before the stressor, Values within a column with differing superscripts are different
(P < .05).
horses were assigned a calm score, which was an average of
two scores, from 1 to 5 based on the level of calmness
observed as several people walked in and out of the stall. A
stress (0.0  2.8 breaths per min [brpm] vs. 1.9  1.9
score of 1 reflected a very calm horse not interested in
brpm) or in the change of RR from stressed to recovery
events occurring in the stall, whereas a calm score of 5
( 0.9  2.6 brpm vs. 3.1  1.5 brpm) (Table 1).
represented a very excited horse that was extremely
nervous because of the events occurring in the stall. Next,
4. Discussion
an air horn (Safety-Sport Horn, LPI, Pompano Beach, FL)
adjacent to the stall containing the horse was blown twice
The results of this experiment demonstrate that 15
for 15 seconds (0 minutes). All horses were allowed
minutes of aromatherapy with lavender essential oil can
60 seconds to calm (for safety purposes) and then were
reduce HR in horses. Similar findings have also been re-
haltered. The stressed HRs and RRs were then recorded
ported in dogs [6] and humans [7,8]. Lavender has also been
(1 minute). Following this, control-treated horses were
reported to have a sedative effect by reducing the amount
exposed to humidified air for 15 minutes using a humidifier
of movement in laboratory mice [9] and sheep [10]. When
(Westinghouse, WDD 100 Ultrasonic Humidifier with
aerosolized lavender breaks down, into two active
Aromatherapy, 8½ ounce tank, WestAire Co. LLC, Naper-
components: linalool and linalyl acetate, which are
ville, IL) by holding the horse’s nostrils in proximity to the
responsible for the biological activity of lavender [9]. Herz
released humid air. Horses receiving aromatherapy were
[11] reported that lavender was capable of restoring control
treated similarly, but were treated with a humid air
of primary regulation of bodily functions to the para-
produced from a 20% mixture of water and 100% pure
sympathetic nervous system following a “flight or fight”
lavender (Lavandula augustifolia) essential oil (Plantlife, San
reflex response and may be the mode of action in the horse
Clemente, CA) for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes of treat-
to reduce HR.
ment, the recovery HR (RHR) and recovery RR (RRR) were
The increased sedative effects of lavender among horses
recorded.
with a higher calm score may be the result of these animals
Statistical analysis was performed using PROC MIXED
deviating further away from baseline HR, which allows for
procedures with repeated measures in SAS (SAS Institute,
a greater discrepancy between no treatment and lavender.
Inc., Gary, NC). The horse’s age, sex, calm score, resting HR,
Additionally, one limitation of this study is that the horses
resting RR, stressed HR, stressed RR, RHR, RRR, and their
used were American rodeo horses, which do not easily
interactions were analyzed using repeated measures of
become stressed because of an air horn. These horses are
analysis of variance with a Tukey post hoc test.
accustomed to explosions during the rodeo opening cere-
monies. In future experiments, the use of feral horses,
3. Results
yearlings, or foals may likely demonstrate greater changes
after lavender aromatherapy.
There were no statistical differences (P > .05) between
In conclusion, equine practitioners could use lavender
the control- and aromatherapy-treated horses for resting
aromatherapy to reduce nervousness among horses in the
HR (33.7  3.6 beats per minute [bpm] versus 34.0  3.1
examination area, or for treatment following performance
bpm), stressed HR (38.8  3.9 bpm versus 45.5  5.3 bpm),
competition to possibly hasten recovery time. However, the
or RHR (39.1  3.3 bpm versus 36.2  3.8 bpm). Addition-
use of lavender should be considered only as a short-term
ally, there were no differences in the change of heart rate
solution, as studies in humans report short-term benefits
from resting to stressed among control-treated (5.1  1.7
but no differences when evaluated over long-term treat-
bpm) or lavender-treated horses (11.5  4.1 bpm). However,
ment periods [7].
there was a significant decrease in the HR from the stressed
HR to RHR in lavender-treated horses ( 9.3  3.4 bpm)
compared with control-treated horses (0.28  1.5 bpm) Acknowledgments
(Table 1).
Of the seven horses, four received a calm score of 2 and The authors thank Dr Delma Porter of the McNeese State
three received a calm score of 1. These horses were University Writing Center for her assistance in proof-
consistent during each trial period. Among horses with reading and editing this manuscript.
a calm score of 2, lavender aromatherapy significantly
reduced (P < .0017) HR ( 14.0  4.8 bpm) compared with References
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