Herd Make-Up Crucial to Happy and Stable Horses
A study published this week in the journal Animals explores how the make-up of groups affects the welfare of horses kept at pasture, finding that certain combinations create higher aggression levels.
Do Horses Like to be Scratched or Patted?
Have you ever wondered if your horse prefers to be scratched or patted as a reward? Well, a group of scientists in England had just that thought. The issue of patting versus scratching hadn’t been previously addressed in scientific studies. Here’s what they found.
Art Meets Science: How a Horse Jumps
A Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup-winning jockey and an expert in equine biomechanics break down what happens each time a horse jumps.
Do Horses Get Motion Sickness?
Could motion sickness make a horse reluctant to load and cause him to scramble in the trailer? Find out what the research says.
Equine Science Class Allows All Science Majors to Work with Baby Horses
Cal Poly students of all majors are able to take the Foaling Enterprise (ASCI 290) course.The department’s materials describe the class as having students actively participate in multiple components of mare care, 24-hour foal watch, assisting with foaling, and all aspects of neo-natal care. After the birth of the foals, students handle and halter-train them while…
How to Tack Up a Horse for Vaulting
In this new FEI video, Vaulting pros Ali Divita and Mari Inouye show us how to tack up a horse for Vaulting, guiding us through the variations in equipment and advising us as to best practice.
Balancing Act: How Foals Find Their Feet as Youngsters
Researchers have charted the development of dynamic balance in foals, saying their findings will be useful for vets when looking to deal with problems in this area. The researchers said newborn foals tended to splay their limbs, increasing the width of their base of support. This is thought to be a compensation for poor balance and…
3rd Grader Raises Money for Horse Rescue
When 3rd grader Payton Shaffer’s teacher assigned a Kindness Project, Payton knew exactly what she wanted to do—raise money for horses in need.
Is Winx’s Success Due to Bilateral Symmetry?
We don’t know whether Winx has perfect structural symmetry. But her trainer and regular riders would have a strong sense of the mare’s balance during track work and races. Bilateral symmetry in animals refers to the balance of structures, such that they are mirror images along the body’s midline. Asymmetry is a disruption of the…
“The Movement,” Equine Event at Flag Is Up Farms
The public is invited to attend an equine event, “The Movement,” at Flag Is Up Farms in Solvang, CA April 29-30. Founded in 2018 on Monty Roberts’ belief that non-violent forms of communication are essential to building trust and achieving outstanding results, The Movement is committed to helping people discover the unique power of horses…