Horses recognise disgust in humans. Disgusted? Don’t show your horse. In keeping with the findings by Léa Lansade’s team in France, a Japanese study has found that horses recognise when humans show facial and vocal expressions of disgust—and they change their behaviour because of it. “Horses are sensitive to humans’Read More →
Recognising stress in horses. Can you recognize stress in a horse during a veterinary exam? Your observations might not be as accurate as you think. Physiological stress parameter measurements could give more reliable information about equine stress—but they have to be interpreted correctly, according to Scottish researchers. “We can onlyRead More →
Horse behaviour research. The International Society for Equitation Science is proud to announce that Honorary Fellow, Professor Paul McGreevy has been awarded the Fulbright Future Scholarship, funded by The Kinghorn Foundation. The scholarship will allow Prof. McGreevy to spend three months at Colorado State University (CSU), promoting the Equine BehaviourRead More →
Horse rider weight gain. It happens to the best of us. We think we’re maintaining our weight, trying to get fit, hoping we don’t look too bad in our riding breeches and especially not weighing down our poor horses. Then come the holidays. Family events. Work parties, memorable nights onRead More →
Noseband design. If you use a flash or drop noseband, you may be surprised at the results of a recent preliminary equine study. Jayne Peters from Bishop Burton College, UK and her research team, investigated three different noseband designs for their effect on rein tension and the force being exertedRead More →
Astute horse owners realise that their horse’s welfare is about more than having food, water and appropriate shelter. The horse’s emotional well-being, also known as their quality of life, is an important piece of the welfare puzzle. However, it is unclear what measurements are accurate and reliable enough to helpRead More →
You put your right hand on, You take your right hand off, You put your right hand on… the handle, And you turn it to the right…. You do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around. That’s what (getting out of your barn) is all about! Horses learn byRead More →
Recognise the signs of distress. A new scientific study suggests owners often miss signs of stress. Even experienced horse owners risk missing signs that their horses are experiencing stress or fear. The team of researchers from the Equine Behaviour and Training Association warn that when people fail to recognise theRead More →
You show up at the barn in a bad mood, grumpy, short-tempered. You snap at the other riders and you raise your voice at a significant other over your mobile phone. Then there’s your horse, wide-eyed and a little nervous, like he’s wondering what’s in it for him. If you’veRead More →
Whip use in equestrian sports is currently a highly debated topic, not just within racing but across the entire industry, and a recent study into the use and perception of the whip in equestrian sports suggests there is an appetite for changes in regulation and education. Dr Jane Williams andRead More →
