Can Horses Recognize Photos of Their Owners?

A study in France tested horses’ abilities to recognize photos of their keepers. The horses were presented with two screens with photos of two humans. Initially the screens showed random humans, but over time one side began to feature photos of their current or former handlers. Here’s what they found . . .

Algorithm Used To Analyze A Horse’s Stride

An algorithm [a process or set of rules to be followed in calculations or other problem-solving operations] could prove useful in pinpointing longer break-over phases, which can indicate musculoskeletal problems. The break-over phase starts after the loading phase when the horse lifts its heel, causing a rotational movement around the toe, and ends with hoof…

What Makes a Horse an Easy Keeper?

The microorganisms that populate a horse’s gut are crucial to their health, and essential for the digestion of their fiber-rich diet. Little is known about how differences in this extremely diverse range of microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract, which scientists call the microbiome, affects the ability of horses to put on and hold weight. For…

This Equine Scientist Is Studying Bits

Originally from the Netherlands, Sandra Hurley previously worked in primary schools as a trained artist. She then decided to follow her passion for science and horses at the University of Limerick, where she received her BSc in equine science as a mature student in 2017. Hurley is now a PhD student at UL doing research…