Wild horses are one of the most understudied large mammals in North America today. And this lack of understanding is resulting in what is arguably the current mismanagement of American wild horses by government agencies. Wild Horse Fire Brigade started its wild horse Fellowship program with students from California State University, Sacramento to meet this…
World Horse Day has been celebrated on March 1st every year since it was created in 2005 to raise awareness of equine welfare and protection. Equine Guelph will be offering its new online course, Introduction to Body Condition Scoring, FREE for horse owners and caretakers around the globe who sign up on Friday, March 1, 2024,…
Scientists are working to get to the root of equine cribbing as they explore brain anatomy, genetics, potential causes, health consequences, welfare, treatment, and more. With each decade they’re learning more about the whens, whys, and hows of this and other stereotypies in horses, humans, and other animals. Here’s what they’ve learned in their most…
Historically, there has been emphasis on the absence of indicators of unhappiness or distress, with a focus on assuming that if the horse is not showing distress or displeasure, he must be happy. Now, there is increasing interest in looking for signs of happiness in horses.
International charity World Horse Welfare has launched a new “one-stop shop” for horse advice and information. A range of horse health and management topics are covered in the new Advice Library, including well-being essentials, covering basic welfare fundamentals such as the 3Fs (friends, forage and freedom), and the 5 domains of animal welfare – which…
In the world of animal intelligence, few possess the fascinating intellect of the horse. Their ancient partnership with humans and intricate social dynamics within herds have intrigued scientists and equestrians alike with their seemingly profound understanding and emotional depth. Years of experiments and training have shown us that horses possess an intelligence greater than we…
For many decades, horses have developed habits that frustrate the people managing them. From cribbing to stall weaving to pawing, owners have swapped explanations, old wives’ tales, and supposed remedies for these behaviors, which are often lumped together in a category called “stable vices.” Dr. Katherine Houpt, professor emeritus in behavior medicine at the Cornell…
Horse sport’s international governing body has joined forces with the World Horse Library, which combines the resources of public and private libraries around the world on the subject of the horse. Check out this amazing resource!
Learning to ride horses takes time and is steeped in traditional methods of teaching. Instructors often stick to these traditional approaches because they are seen to be the main way students learn. However, these methods are not effective for all participants, and those with challenges in learning often struggle to understand and build their skills.…
Horses chew wood for a variety of reasons, but it’s most commonly a behavioural response born out of boredom or a coping mechanism to deal with stress. Research shows that wood chewing correlates strongly with the amount of time a horse is stabled and the amount of long-stem forage available. When horses are stabled or…