equine behaviour Archives - Page 2 of 2

What Kind of Horse Person Are You — And What Does That Mean for Your Horse?

by Cristina Wilkins | May 12, 2026 | Equine Science, Horse Welfare | 0 |

Ask a farrier what’s wrong with your horse and the answer starts in the feet. Ask a nutritionist and it starts in the feed bucket. It’s funny because it’s true — and it’s true because it’s biology. This article explores how your experience and expertise shape what you detect in your horse, what you miss, and why a whole-horse welfare assessment process changes everything.

Equine Ethology: The Horse In Context

by Bonny Mealand | Feb 5, 2026 | Horse Culture, Horse Welfare | 0 |

Wild and free-living horses offer vital reference points for hoof health, showing how terrain, movement, and social life shape both the foot and the horse’s welfare.

A Reply to Response to Comments on ‘Facial pressure beneath a cavesson noseband adjusted to different tightness levels during standing and chewing”

by Cristina Wilkins, Assoc. Prof Janne Winther Christensen, Dr Orla Doherty, MVB MSc PhD, Dr Kate Fenner, PhD, Prof Rafael Freire, Dr Cathrynne Henshall and Prof Paul McGreevy | Oct 13, 2025 | CRISTINA WILKINS, Equitation Science, Horse Welfare | 0 |

In academic publishing, critique and reply are essential to scientific progress. This letter—declined by the Equine Veterinary Journal—is published here to complete the public record. It clarifies key methodological issues in a study of noseband pressures and highlights the importance of open discourse for equine welfare policy.

The Perfect Bit for your Horse

by Emeritus Professor David Mellor | Oct 10, 2025 | Horse Welfare | 0 |

Emeritus Professor David Mellor—architect of the Five Domains Model—explores the biological and behavioural evidence showing that all bits, regardless of design, cause mouth pain. Drawing on decades of welfare science, he argues that the perfect bit is the one never placed in a horse’s mouth.

Think Blue Tongues may be Harmless in Elite Sport Horses? Think Again.

by Dr James Cooling | Oct 9, 2025 | Anatomy, Dressage, Equine Science, Equitation Science, Horse Welfare | 0 |

Unlike most reports quoting only veterinarians, this analysis comes from Dr James Cooling—a medical doctor, qualified bit-fitter, and rider. He explains why blue tongues in elite horses are not cosmetic, but clear evidence of pressure, pain, and compromised welfare.

The Mouth-Iron-Free Solution for Sudden Death in the Racehorse

by Dr Robert Cook, FRCVS, PhD | Oct 6, 2025 | Equine Science, Horse Health, Horse Welfare, Off The Track, Respiratory | 0 |

In this final paper, the late Dr Robert Cook reviews decades of anatomical, physiological, and behavioural research showing how bits cause pain, breathing restriction, and performance loss in horses. He argues that allowing bit-free options across all disciplines would improve welfare, enhance safety, and restore public trust in equestrian sport.