Dr Andrea Harvey is a veterinary specialist and animal welfare scientist, who is currently writing up her PhD research on the welfare and social dynamics of wild brumbies in New South Wales and Victoria. She grew up on the Island of Guernsey in the Channel Islands, she trained as aRead More →
The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is the first jurisdiction in Australia to in law that animals are sentient and have intrinsic value. The Animal Sentience Act applies to all vertebrate species (including wildlife and fish) and cephalopods (octopus etc) and some crustaceans. While Australia’s national and state legislation already recognisedRead More →
Once, there were the Five Freedoms—looking at what was available to the horse. Then came the Five Domains—looking at the state of the horse itself. Today, with ever-increasing public scrutiny of animal welfare and a greater understanding of their ethological needs, it’s time for a new welfare-assessment structure that looksRead More →
The Chilean Equine Veterinary Association (ACHVE) and the Chilean Veterinary College (COLMVET) have pledged support of the responsible use of nosebands in all equestrian disciplines. In their press release, they acknowledge the research that has found restrictive nosebands are associated with an activation of the physiological stress response, the presenceRead More →
Whenever we want to get to the bottom of a question regarding equine performance, welfare, nutrition or disease, we must consider the science. Scientists make it their life’s work to drill down on their areas of interest in an effort to answer all the questions they and their peers haveRead More →
Sometimes, horses get their tongues over the bit. When this happens, the tongue may loll out of the mouth in a very unsightly way, and all hope of achieving a good contact or communication line with the horse’s mouth will be lost. In horse racing, it is believed a tongueRead More →
You go to his stall, put his halter on him, lead him out away from his companions, and take him to that Great Contraption that he’s finally learned to accept. You guide him into the enclosure, tie him up, give him a friendly pat on the croup and tell himRead More →
Horses may not be able to say how much it hurts with words, but researchers show their face tells all. Learn to recognise the signs of the equine pain face, also known as the equine grimace scale, with Karina Bech Gleerup. To download The Equine Pain Face Poster, scroll downRead More →
When it comes to horse (and rider) welfare, the “dreams of the youth” aren’t to be taken lightly. According to one Swedish researcher, professionals and scientists can learn a lot about developing more ideal riding schools tomorrow by listening to the young riders of today. Young people make up theRead More →
Horses are instinctively ‘stoic’, they do their best to mask all signs of pain in an effort to keep-up and blend-in with the rest of their herd. By the time your horse shows clear signs of lameness or injury, it is likely a lot of damage has already been done.Read More →
