Boehringer Ingelheim is continuing their commitment to the health of the whole horse through the release of a new video explaining the science behind Relax Trax. The special music track, which launched September 2021, was developed in conjunction with animal sound behaviorist Janet Marlow and is designed to reduce stress in horses. In the educational video, Marlow is joined by Dr. Sarah Reuss, Equine Technical Manager, and Kelly Graber, Equine Marketing Manager, to discuss the science behind the music.
“Boehringer Ingelheim is passionate about offering horse owners solutions to health problems outside of the traditional pharmaceutical world,” says Reuss. “Diving into the science behind Relax Trax further highlights how great of a supplementary tool it is for everyday stress relief.”
The effects of Relax Trax are clear in the video. Horses can be seen exhibiting behaviors consistent with relaxation: chewing, yawning, soft eyes, loose, hanging jaws and relaxed nostrils. But why exactly does it seem to work so well?
“Relax Trax includes specific rhythms to mimic the gaits of a horse and string instruments to elicit calm,” explains Marlow. “Relax Trax is also within the horse's pitch comfort range of 1 kHz to 16 kHz and a volume comfort range of 60 to 80 decibels.”
Marlow's musical arrangement was based on what was learned from a study conducted in Poland on racehorses. This and other studies have shown that playing music can help balance equine behavior because it helps mask outside sounds and vibrations, and provides a positive and relaxing effect.
In addition to the pitch, volume and rhythm, the type of music can also influence the effects that it has on the horse. While Relax Trax falls under the classical genre, horses are also fans of country music due to its tempo and key. Rock and jazz, however, tend to be more disruptive and less relaxing.
Relax Trax can be a beneficial relaxation tool for any horse, even if they aren't experiencing what a horse owner might consider to be a stressful event. Stress in a horse's life can present itself in many ways, both big and small. A long trailer ride, competing at a horse show, a new stall neighbor or a change in routine are all different stressors that may be impacting your horse.
“The stress that horses experience can be from many things that we don't necessarily think of as being stressful,” says Graber. “It's important to recognize and limit potential stressors in a horse's everyday life to help keep them relaxed and healthy.”
While stress on its own may not seem like a big deal, it can quickly lead to equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) which can cause larger health problems and poor performance. Consider administering UlcerGard® (omeprazole) or playing Relax Trax for your horse as ways to potentially help reduce the likelihood of ulcers.
The educational video is available to watch here and the audio only version of Relax Trax can be found here.
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