The Influence of a Soft Touch Therapy Flowtrition on Heart Rate, Surface Temperature, and Behavior in Horses

• We investigate the effectiveness of a soft touch therapy Flowtrition on horses.
• Heart rate levels decreased significantly after application of Flowtrition therapy.
• Relaxation-related behaviors increased in occurrence and duration.
• Application of therapy can be used to increase relaxation in a horse.
• First controlled scientific study of the soft touch therapy Flowtrition.

This study tested Flowtrition, a noninvasive soft touch therapy, on the mean and maximum heart rate (HRavg and HRmax, respectively), surface temperature in three body quadrants, and eight stress-related behaviors in horses. Fourteen gelded horses were randomly assigned to a control (CON, n = 5) group or a Flowtrition (treatment, TRT, n = 9) group. Each horse underwent four sessions with each session split into three 20-minute stages: Pre, During, and Post. At the end of the Pre stage in which neither group received any intervention, baseline heart rate, temperature, and behaviors were recorded. A During stage followed in which the TRT group received therapy, and the CON group was monitored and received no treatment. Within the Post period, both groups were monitored and response variables were recorded. The TRT group experienced a decrease (P < .05) of 10 ± 2.7 bpm in HRmax and 4.7 ± 0.8 bpm in HRavg between Pre and Post stages compared to the CON group, which experienced no shifts in heart rate. The group receiving therapy showed an increase (P < .05) in occurrence frequency and total duration of head lowering, licking and chewing, and yawning between Pre and Post stages; the CON group showed no behavioral shifts. The results show that Flowtrition induces a more relaxed state in horses as evidenced by a decrease in HR and increase in occurrence and duration of relaxation-related behaviors.