How do horses respond to different human voices? When we are grooming a horse and talking softly, does the horse understand what we are communicating? Do they pick up on the way our voice sounds and not just our words? Most horse owners will tell you that their horses know when they’re being scolded or…
When learning how to bridle a horse and properly fit a noseband we are taught how to recognize the proper noseband pressure. The noseband should be buckled at a point that allows two fingers’ width between it and the front of the horse’s face. This allows the horse to open her mouth slightly and…
The latest addition to the Assateague pony herd was born sometime in mid-May. The sorrel foal was the first new edition to the wild pony herd in 2013. The National Park Service refers to him as, N9BFQ-GL. Horse Talk: Sorrel – refers to a copper-red shade of chestnut with no black hairs and the same-color…
Three sixth graders from Mitchell Intermediate School in Texas were awarded second place in the grade 4-6 category at the 21st annual Toshiba/National Science Teacher Association ExploraVision program. Their project? A device called L.E.A.D.S. that allows veterinarians to diagnose Laminitis in horses. Genna Childers, Sarah Kong, and Alice Zhang worked together along with their coach, Dawn…
Having a career working with horses isn’t limited to riding show jumpers or training racehorses. Many people choose to study Equine Science at colleges and universities. Some of the posts here on Horse Lover’s Math are based on their research. To see these posts, check out the Horse Science category. One organization of equine scientists,…
Horses may be strong, but sometimes riders can be too heavy for a horse to carry comfortably. While most healthy horses can easily carry a rider and saddle, they do have their limits. So, how much weight can a horse comfortably carry? The scientists base their findings on detailed measurements taken of eight horses that were…
Most of us have heard about, or experienced, a horse misbehaving when being ridden. Up until recently we didn’t know how frequent these problems in riding horses are—nor how often riders use special tack and equipment to help control them. Jo S. Hockenhull, PhD, of the School of Veterinary Science at the University of Bristol,…
Have you ever had a chance to quietly watch a herd of horses for a long time? What do you see and notice about how they get along? As scientists discover more about the way a horse’s social life affects their behaviour and possibly training, researchers find themselves in need of a reliable, efficient way…
Is music played in your barn? Ever wonder if the horses like it? A study by researchers at Hartpury College in England found horses liked classical and country sounds more than they did rock and jazz. To test the effects of different kinds of music on stabled horses, Clare Carter, a Bachelor of Science student,…
A survey of elementary schoolchildren in a semi-rural district of the North Canterbury area in New Zealand has provided a snapshot of horse use among youngsters in the region. The survey by the local council was sent to all primary schoolchildren (5 to 13-year-olds) in the district. There were 5400 children at the schools and…