How Good Are We at Interpreting Arousal Levels of Horses from Whinnies?
Humans, it turns out, appear well attuned to the whinnies and neighs of horses, showing an ability to understand whether an animal is content or upset.
Ability of Horses to Show Self-Control Shown in Study
Horses are able to exert self control to wait for a better food reward. Self-control is defined as the ability to forgo immediate satisfaction in favour of better pay-offs in the future. Researchers assessed the self-control abilities of horses in a simplified delay-of-gratification test in a farm setting.
Tool Use by Horses Confirmed
German zoologist and behaviour researcher Konstanze Krueger and her colleagues, reporting in the journal Animals, said they identified 13 cases of tool use in their study involving twelve horses and a mule.
Understanding Horse Behavior a Key to Better Welfare
Understanding horse behavior is an important, but often missing, component of improving equine welfare. This audio podcast features an interview with Dr Kris Hiney about how misinterpretation of equine behaviors can have a significant impact on health and welfare.
Are Horses Able to Show Self-Control?
Self-control is defined as the ability to forgo immediate satisfaction in favor of better pay-offs in the future. Researchers assessed the self-control abilities of horses in a simplified delay-of-gratification test in a farm setting.
When and Why to Blanket Your Horse
Horses have a much wider thermoneutral zone then humans do. Research has shown this means a fit and healthy unclipped horse typically feels cold only when the weather creates temperatures below 0°C and they feel hot when it reaches 25°C. Humans have a much narrower thermoneutral zone of between 25 and 30°C. So when we…
Can Horses Hear Electric Cars?
A study by the British Horse Society, in conjunction with the Electric Vehicle Association Scotland, sought to determine how well horses could hear electric vehicles and what their reaction to these electric vehicles was.
Does Weather Effect Activity Levels of Pastured Horses?
Pasturing horses can promote better mental and physical health compared to stalling. While pastures allow horses the opportunity to increase their physical activity, factors such as weather may impact whether or not they take advantage of this opportunity. Researchers at Michigan State University evaluated the effects of temperature, humidity, precipitation and wind speed on horse…
What a Horse’s Posture Says About Her Health
When it comes to evaluating horses, their movement has always been a primary focus. Now research suggests that more consideration should be given to what a horse’s posture says about his health.
How Horses Experience The World Through Sounds, Scents, and Touch
To maximize a strong and productive relationship with our horses, a better understanding of how horses perceive the world is helpful. Their sensory environment is not ours and we can never experience it firsthand. But by learning about it and observing our horses carefully, we can enjoy a better connection with this beautiful animal.