Young Farmers Learn About Raising Draft Horses

About 20 young farmers attended the first of a three-day workshop about using draft horses on their farm. As the fuel and equipment costs continue to rise, many farmers are looking for more sustainable and economical sources of farm power, a media release about the class said. Over the three days, beginning farmers will learn…

Horse Sense and Survival Tours Are Back!

Cape Lookout National Seashore will again show visitors — from a distance — the natural behaviors of Shackleford horses during the annual Horse Sense and Survival Tours. Led by the national seashore’s wildlife biologist Dr. Sue Stuska, participants will ride the ferry to Shackleford Banks, where they will walk a moderate-level trek off the beaten…

Equine Guelph Donates Courses For Youth Contests

Do you live in Ontario? Enter the Bill Galvin Racing Alliance Youth Literary Derby, Art Derby, Photo Derby and Video Derby. The deadline for the Youth Literary Derby and Youth Art Derby is coming up fast – June 27.  The winner in each division will receive $250, second prize will be $150 and third place…

Can Horses Experience ‘Flow’?

The idea that horses can experience intrinsic motivations and flow states similar to humans is an important part of the Intrinzen training philosophy. Unfortunately, intrinsic motivation has barely been studied in horses, so there is almost no empirical research to fall back upon. However, this may soon change.

How Stress Affects Your Horse

We’ve all seen the horse that enters into a new situation, whole body on alert, each muscle taut with intense focus on his surroundings. He might poop frequently in nervous anticipation. He might swish his tail or toss his head. Other horses might vocalize repeatedly or move constantly, reluctant to stand still. Such signs of…

A Conversation With Course Designer Bernardo Costa Cabral

An interesting conversation with Level 4 FEI course designer Bernardo Costa Cabral for those interested in show jumping course design. His interest was ignited in the late 1980s when British course designer Bob Ellis was working for a show held at the same riding club where 14-year-old Costa Cabral rode in Portugal. Because the ring…

The Neural Dance Between Horse and Rider

The primary reason horses and humans communicate at such a high level—and in real-time during very speedy sports—is because we allow the horse to use her own natural form of communication with us. In return, we offer that same form of communication to her. When we apply body language to horses, they reply with similar…

Effects of Different Stabling Routines on Horse Behaviour

Stabling is commonly used to manage domesticated horses despite research indicating that it can negatively impact horse welfare, but its effect on their affective state — that is, their underlying emotional state — has yet to be quantified. Stabling has been linked to significant impacts on the horse’s physiological health, as evidenced by the increase…