A study from UC Davis reveals that spending just three minutes with mini horses and donkeys can significantly reduce anxiety and feelings of sadness among teenagers. Dr. Rebecca Calisi, an associate professor of neurobiology, physiology, and behavior, led the research, published on September 15, 2026, in the journal "Scientific Reports."
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The research focused on interactions between teens and the animals, teaching participants to recognize specific behaviors in the animals; for instance, the horses and donkeys wiggle their lips when enjoying scratches but walk away during less enjoyable interactions. This interaction is summarized in Dr. Calisi's two-way hypothesis, which posits that human behavior influences the animals, whose responses in turn affect the humans.
Interestingly, even when the animals chose to walk away, teens reported a decrease in sadness. Dr. Calisi suggested that the agency exhibited by the animals might create a more authentic experience, contributing to the emotional benefit.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately one in four adolescents aged 13 to 18 suffers from an anxiety disorder, with about one in 17 experiencing severe anxiety. This has prompted researchers to explore novel therapeutic approaches for adolescent mental health.
The effects from this study were evident in a short time frame, as teens reported feeling calmer and less anxious and lonely within just three minutes of interaction. Dr. Calisi expressed excitement over the rapid impact observed, reinforcing the idea that nature and animal-based therapies can play a vital role in mental health treatment.