Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Just three minutes with miniature horses and donkeys improved teens’ mood

Adolescents who read the equines’ body language were less sad and lonely

University of California - Davis

Professor Rebecca Calisi Rodriguez with mini horse — image:
UC Davis Associate Professor Rebecca Calisi Rodríguez smiles in the sunshine while standing behind Randy, a miniature horse who was part of a study about human-animal interactions and mental health.
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Credit: Gregory Urquiaga/UC Davis

Interacting with animals can make people feel calmer and less lonely and anxious. A new study from the University of California, Davis, shows that animals play an active role in shaping these interactions and their outcomes.

Spending just three minutes with miniature horses and donkeys improved the mood of adolescents. Teens who picked up on the equines’ body language cues showed bigger reductions in loneliness and sadness — even if those cues involved the animal walking away. The study’s results, published in Scientific Reports, provide a new framework for improving animal-assisted interventions for both people and animals.

“Our work raises this beautiful possibility that making the interaction better for the animal may be part of what makes it better for us,” said Rebecca Calisi Rodríguez, associate professor of neurobiology, physiology and behavior and director of the Green Care Lab at UC Davis. “This has the potential to change how we think about designing animal-assisted interventions, from hospitals and schools to therapeutic riding centers and beyond.”

Investigating both sides of human-animal interactions

Most previous studies of animal-assisted interventions have zeroed in on their benefits to humans while treating the animals as passive participants.

“You can't stand in a pasture watching a child and a donkey interact and pretend only one of them is having an experience,” said Calisi Rodríguez. “They're watching each other, they're responding to each other, they're both making choices. That realization became the heart of my work and the heart of this paper.”

Coauthor Claire Short, who designed the study, began working with Calisi Rodríguez as an undergraduate student and now manages the Green Care Lab.

“I noticed that the mini equines in our lab would react differently depending on how I pet them, and that it made me feel good to make them feel good,” Short said. “Then when I was reading papers on animal-assisted interventions, I saw that the results weren’t very consistent. I wondered if that was partly because different people interacted with the animals in different ways.”

To understand how reciprocity shapes human-animal interactions, the researchers analyzed interactions between 61 teenagers and a small herd of rescued miniature horses and donkeys. Each adolescent spent three minutes with the herd, which consisted of two miniature horses named Olivia and Randy and two miniature donkeys named Mary and Memphis.

Half of the adolescents were instructed to gently stroke the animals’ backs, whereas the other half were told to vigorously scratch their necks in a way that mimics how equines groom each other. The teens were also taught to recognize two equine behavioral cues: lip-wriggling, which indicates pleasure or enjoyment, and walking away, which indicates that the animal wants some space.

Equines unanimously vote: Neck scratches beat petting

Based on the adolescent’s reports, the horses and donkeys wriggled their lips during 75% of neck-scratching interactions, versus a 48% lip-wriggling rate for petting interactions. Conversely, the equines walked away during 89% of petting interactions versus 42% of neck-scratching interactions.

All of the teens reported increased calmness and lower levels of nervousness, sadness, loneliness and excitement, regardless of whether they were assigned to pet or scratch the animals. However, participants who observed lip-wriggling showed bigger decreases in loneliness, and — surprisingly — adolescents who observed equines walking away from them showed bigger reductions in sadness.

“I love that this unexpected result challenges the assumption that more animal engagement is always better,” said Calisi Rodríguez. “A meaningful interaction may not require an animal to engage with us continuously. Seeing an animal exercise choice — being free to approach you, stay with you, or walk away — may make the interaction feel more authentic.”

A framework for improving animal-assisted interventions

“This really isn't a story about the best way to pet a donkey, as cute as that would be. It's a story about reciprocity,” said Calisi Rodríguez. “If animals are going to become increasingly important partners in supporting human well-being, then understanding their well-being isn't just an ethical responsibility. Our work suggests it may actually be part of understanding how these interventions work.”

By revealing that human interaction style influences animal behavior, which in turn influences human emotions, these findings could help design better animal-assisted interventions.

“Ultimately, what we want to know is whether we can predict the conditions under which an interaction is beneficial for both species,” said Calisi Rodríguez. “I would love to see animal-assisted programs become places where people don't just receive care from animals but learn how to give care back.”

The study was funded by academic enrichment funds from UC Davis.

Journal

Scientific Reports

DOI

10.1038/s41598-026-65168-2

Article Title

Mutual wellbeing in an equine-assisted intervention: experimental evidence for the Two-Way hypothesis and the importance of interaction method

Article Publication Date

15-Sep-2026

UC Davis Associate Professor Rebecca Calisi Rodríguez kneels next to a miniature horse named Randy, who lives at an animal sanctuary and was part of her Green Care Lab's study.

Credit

Gregory Urquiaga/UC Davis

A child scratches the neck of a miniature donkey named Memphis that was part of the UC Davis Green Care Lab's study about how people-animal interactions affect moods.

Credit

Claire Short/UC Davis

Cardiovascular disease tops cancer as leading cause of death among Hispanic adults in U.S.

Hispanic adults face unique cardiovascular health challenges that require culturally relevant prevention and care strategies, according to a new American Heart Association scientific statement

American Heart Association

Statement Highlights:

Cardiovascular disease has replaced cancer as the leading cause of death among Hispanic adults in the U.S., according to a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association.
Hispanic people experience health risk factors at younger ages than other populations and they face many social conditions that influence health, including access to care, language services, healthy foods and safe places to be physically active.
The statement highlights the urgent need for culturally relevant prevention strategies, equitable access to care and greater representation of Hispanic populations in cardiovascular research.

DALLAS, Sept. 15, 2026 — Cardiovascular disease has surpassed cancer as the leading cause of death among Hispanic adults in the U.S., driven by rising rates of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and other risk factors that often begin earlier in life for Hispanic people. A new scientific statement from the American Heart Association reveals how social, economic cultural and environmental factors contribute to persistent disparities in cardiovascular health and calls for culturally tailored prevention strategies, equitable access to care and greater representation of Hispanic populations in cardiovascular research. The statement is published today in the Association's flagship journal, Circulation.

Hispanic people represent nearly 1 in 5 of the U.S. population and are the nation's largest ethnic minority group, yet many continue to face barriers to achieving heart health and accessing high quality healthcare. The statement also highlights important differences among Hispanic populations, including those born in the U.S. versus other countries and even among specific Hispanic heritage backgrounds, including those of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Dominican, Central American and South American descent.

That’s why the chair of the scientific statement’s volunteer writing group, Johanna Contreras, M.D., M.Sc., FAHA, cautions that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to heart health for Hispanic communities.

“Hispanic populations in the U.S. are incredibly diverse even within their own communities with differences in genetic ancestry, language, cultural traditions and social experiences that can significantly influence cardiovascular health,” said Contreras, who is the director of the Division of Heart Failure and medical director of the Hispanic Heart Center within the Mount Sinai Health System in New York. “Yet Hispanic people remain underrepresented overall in the research that guides prevention and treatment strategies. More detailed data collection and reporting across Hispanic heritage backgrounds will be essential to better understand community-specific risks, strengths and healthcare needs. Without better representation and more detailed data, we risk overlooking important differences that can help us improve care and save lives.”

Hispanic cardiovascular health by the numbers

Cardiovascular risk factors are highly prevalent among Hispanic adults and often emerge at younger ages and occur more frequently among Hispanic adults compared with white adults.

Nearly 46% of Hispanic adults have obesity, with the highest rates reported among Puerto Rican and Dominican heritage groups.
Type 2 diabetes affects 15.5% of Hispanic adults, nearly twice the prevalence among white adults. Prevalence is highest among Mexican and Puerto Rican individuals.
About 44% of Hispanic adults have high blood pressure, yet awareness, treatment and control rates remain lower than among white adults. The highest prevalence is observed among Puerto Rican, Cuban and Dominican individuals.

This high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors drives increased cardiovascular disease among Hispanic adults, often occurring at younger ages. Disparities exist between Hispanic adults and white adults, and between U.S.-born and foreign-born Hispanic individuals.

Hispanic adults are diagnosed with heart failure about 8 to 9 years younger than white adults.
Hispanic adults, on average, experience a first stroke about 6 to 8 years younger — 67 years old compared to 73 to 75 years old among white adults.
U.S.-born Hispanic adults have shorter life expectancy and higher death rates than their foreign-born counterparts, driven by high prevalence of heart disease, stroke and multiple cardiovascular disease risk factors.

According to the report, only about 1 in 5 Hispanic adults achieves ideal cardiovascular health as defined by the American Heart Association’s original Life’s Simple 7 metrics. Updated analyses using the Association’s Life's Essential 8™ framework demonstrated persistent disparities for heart and brain health.

Dietary quality remains a challenge. Fewer than 2% of Hispanic adults meet recommended sodium intake goals, and fewer than 10% meet recommendations for healthy fats. Increased intake of ultraprocessed foods and sugar sweetened beverages is more commonly observed among U.S.-born Hispanic adults.
Approximately one-third of Hispanic adults report getting less than seven hours of sleep per night, a factor linked to obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure. Short sleep duration was most prevalent among individuals of Puerto Rican background.
Nearly one-third of Hispanic adults report no moderate-to-vigorous leisure-time physical activity, the highest rate among all U.S. racial and ethnic groups.

Social and economic barriers matter

The writing group emphasized that biology alone does not explain cardiovascular health disparities. The environments where people live, work and age, along with social and economic challenges, can have a profound impact on heart health.

“Many Hispanic adults face obstacles that extend far beyond the doctor’s office,” Contreras said. “Limited health insurance coverage, language differences, food insecurity, environmental exposures and concerns related to immigration status can make it more difficult to prevent disease, manage chronic conditions and receive timely treatment. These challenges accumulate over time and contribute to persistent inequities in cardiovascular health.”

According to the report:

Approximately 17% of Hispanics live below the federal poverty threshold compared with 8.2% of white adults and they earn less at comparable education levels.
About 41% of all Hispanic adults and 66% of older Hispanic adults have low or limited health literacy compared with 9% of white adults. This significantly impacts how they understand medical information and work within healthcare systems to get care.
Approximately 20% of Hispanic adults remained uninsured in 2023, compared with 6.4% of white adults and 9.8% of Black adults. This creates significant challenges for prevention and treatment.

Contreras emphasized that the rich cultural values and practices of Hispanic people also greatly influence how they may perceive their health and healthcare options.

“Family plays a central role in many Hispanic communities and can be an extraordinary source of strength, support and resilience,” Contreras said. “At the same time, family members are often called upon to translate medical information, navigate health systems and help make healthcare decisions for loved ones. Those responsibilities can shape how health information is understood and acted upon. While trusted family and community networks are invaluable, they can also become pathways for health misinformation, making culturally relevant and accurate health communication critically important.”

An action plan for improving Hispanic health

The scientific statement provides an in-depth look at the factors shaping cardiovascular health among Hispanic populations in the U.S., from traditional risk factors to the social and structural barriers that influence health. Beyond documenting the challenges, the statement outlines practical opportunities to achieve equitable cardiovascular health and reduce disparities through community engagement, culturally responsive care, inclusive research and policies that address the underlying drivers of health.

Considerations include:

Trusted community partnerships in settings such as churches, markets, community centers and Spanish-language media platforms to help meet people where they live, work and play.
Improved access to care and tailored clinical care including culturally appropriate bilingual health education and increased use of community health workers;
Increased representation of Hispanic people in research studies including those using artificial intelligence and collecting more detailed data about different Hispanic heritage groups so researchers and clinicians can better understand and address unique health needs;
Greater attention to the social conditions and policies that shape health.

“Raising awareness about these disparities is important, but awareness without access is not enough,” Contreras said. “Reducing cardiovascular disease among Hispanic populations demands action at every level, from improving access to culturally responsive care and expanding research participation to addressing the social and environmental conditions that shape health. A person’s ZIP code, access to healthy foods, ability to communicate with healthcare providers and opportunities to be physically active can be just as important to heart health as traditional medical risk factors.”

As the Hispanic population continues to grow and age, improving cardiovascular health in these communities will be critical to the nation's overall health. The statement authors emphasize that meaningful progress will require collaboration among healthcare systems, researchers, policymakers, community organizations and families to ensure that every person has access to prevention, treatment and support that reflects their culture, language and lived experiences. By addressing both medical risk factors and the social conditions that shape health, experts believe there is an important opportunity to reduce disparities and help more people live longer, healthier lives.

This scientific statement was prepared by the volunteer writing committee on behalf of the American Heart Association Council on Epidemiology and Prevention; Council on Basic Cardiovascular Sciences; Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing; Council on Cardiovascular Surgery and Anesthesia; Council on Clinical Cardiology; Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health; Council on Peripheral Vascular Disease; and Stroke Council. American Heart Association scientific statements promote greater awareness about cardiovascular diseases and stroke issues and help facilitate informed health care decisions. Scientific statements outline what is currently known about a topic and what areas need additional research. While scientific statements inform the development of guidelines, they do not make treatment recommendations. American Heart Association guidelines provide the Association’s official clinical practice recommendations.

Co-authors and members of the volunteer writing committee are David Aguilar, M.D., MSc., FAHA, Vice Chair; Katia Bravo-Jaimes, M.D.; Yamnia Cortes, Ph.D., M.P.H., FAHA; Salvador Cruz-Flores, M.D., FAHA; Jorge R. Kizer, M.D., M.Sc., FAHA; Ileana Piña, M.D., M.P.H., FAHA; Harrison Bonilla, M.D.; Carlos J. Rodriguez, M.D., M.P.H., FAHA; Fatima Rodriguez, M.D., FAHA; and Gladys Velarde, M.D., FAHA. Authors’ disclosures are listed in the manuscript.

The Association receives more than 85% of its revenue from sources other than corporations. These sources include contributions from individuals, foundations and estates, as well as investment earnings and revenue from the sale of our educational materials. Corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations to the Association. The Association has strict policies to prevent any donations from influencing its science content and policy positions. Overall financial information is available here.

Additional Resources:

Video interview with Johanna Contreras, M.D., M.Sc., FAHA, and other available multimedia is on right column of release link.
After Sept. 15, 2026, view the manuscript online.
Spanish news release (to be added). A video interview with Johanna Contreras, M.D., M.Sc., FAHA, in Spanish will be avialable on the right column of the release link.
American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8™
American Heart Association Hispanic Heritage Month Resources
American Heart Association 2026 Statistics Update – Fact Sheet Hispanic/Latino Ethnicity and CVD (PDF)
American Heart Association news release: The lowdown on high blood pressure: what the Hispanic community needs to know
Follow American Heart Association/American Stroke Association news on X @HeartNews
Follow news from the American Heart Association’s Circulation journal on X @CircAHA

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About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.