Interacting with horses boosts teens’ mood, US study finds

A US study has found that spending just three minutes interacting with miniature horses and donkeys led to a rapid improvement in teenagers’ mood.

Researchers at the University of California reported that teens who paid attention to the animals’ body language—including signs of enjoyment or a desire to withdraw—experienced a greater reduction in feelings of loneliness and sadness, according to Asharq.

The researchers added that seeing the animal free to approach, stay, or move away may make the interaction feel more authentic, giving people the sense that they are engaging with a creature capable of making its own decisions.