On-Demand Youth Course: Horse Behaviour & Safety

This online course is FREE until March 31, 2026! This course may be of interest for: Young horse enthusiasts (aged 13-17) who are taking on more responsibilities for horse care, or are currently taking riding lessons, and want to learn more about horse behaviour and safety Young horse enthusiasts who are interested in a career…

Horses Use a Rich Range of Expressions

Animal behavior researchers examined the facial expressions of horses when they were being led towards a bucket of feed and allowed to eat. They were also shown the bucket of feed and then prevented from eating it. In the positive situation, horses had a lower neck position, their ears forward, and their upper lip extended…

Therapy Horses Inspire Robots That Push Back When You’re Stressed

Imagine a robot that refuses to cooperate when you’re anxious, demanding you calm down before it responds—much like a 2,000-pound therapy horse that won’t budge until you get your emotions in check. New research suggests this counterintuitive approach could revolutionize therapeutic robotics by creating machines that challenge users rather than simply comfort them.

New Study Highlights the Importance of Understanding Equestrians’ Perceptions of Horses at the Olympics

Using a photo-elicitation approach, a new study will present participants with randomly selected images from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, spanning dressage, showjumping, and eventing. These include moments such as training, veterinary inspections, competition, and post-event interactions. Participants then anonymously share their thoughts and feelings. The study aims to understand how equestrians react to visual…

Recognizing Happy Horses

With the social license of equestrian sports under increasing scrutiny due to welfare concerns, being able to recognize what a pain-free, happy horse truly looks like is more important than ever. Although many top riders claim their horses are “happy” competing at elite levels, often anthropomorphizing qualities such as competitiveness, pride, or joy in the…

The Importance of Fibre for Horses

Looking at a drop of fluid from the hindgut, a vet student expected to see digestion; what they witnessed instead was an ecosystem. It was then they realized that while fibre is often dismissed as mere “roughage,” in a horse’s hindgut, it is everything.

Haynets and Neck, Spine Problems

Horse owners have questions about how haynet use impacts their horses: “’What about their teeth? What about their back and muscles and all of that?’” These questions inspired researcher Michelle DeBoer’s recent research on hay feeders and haynets.

Applications open for OHHA Equine Vocation Scholarship

The Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association is now accepting applications for the Equine Vocation Scholarship. The scholarship will be awarded to an applicant pursuing a career specifically within the equine industry. Applicants must be at least 16 years of age and currently enrolled in a degree program, certificate program, or vocational training related to the equine…