Riding a “funny shaped” horse as a teen has led a young Kiwi woman to the other side of the world to learn the ancient craft of saddlery. Twenty-year-old Sophia Stratford is into her second year on a course steeped in history after raising funds including selling her beloved horse.
Incorporation of unstable surfaces, such as balance pads, to an equine rehabilitation plan has been proposed to challenge a horse’s core strength, improve neuromuscular control, and improve balance. The first study examining the use of “balance pads” to improve postural stability in horses has been published.
The charity World Horse Welfare has launched a new sustainability strategy, setting out its commitment to be environmentally sustainable. Eight overarching goals, centred around the charity’s four activities of care, research, education, and influence, are set out in the document.
A new tool to measure noseband tightness will begin a phased roll-out across FEI events in the first quarter of 2025. The device is designed to go under the noseband on top of the nasal bone. If it passes through, the noseband is loose enough. If not, the noseband is considered too tight. The move…
Recently, as we’ve come to know more about what makes a good life for a horse, questions are being raised about the daily lives of racehorses. Industry participants will point to the high level care that racehorses receive—comfortable stables, specially formulated diets, the latest vet treatments and added extras such as massages and swimming sessions.…
James Anaquad Kleinert, the Telluride director and cinematographer, has been working on his film, “Native Horse,” for more than two decades. “I tried to give this film a broad appeal,” Kleinert said. “Many different types of people can enjoy it. If you’re not into the Native side of the story, the scenery and the horse…
Most horses have limited turnout and spend most time standing in stalls. Enrichment toys can help improve welfare. This study compared how different enrichments (hay feeder, activity ball, mirror) affected horse behaviour and physiology.
A study of 299 working horse owners and their horses showed that owners who believe in their horses’ emotions and treat them with care, have animals that are significantly healthier and better looked after.
A research team at University of Missouri is developing non-invasive sensors that monitor the vital signs of horses both individually and as a group. It is a new type of technology that can open new opportunities for veterinarians to treat horses. The researchers are also the first to use this type of device to study…
Full-length feature film “Horses and the Science of Harmony” examines the nature of harmony between horse and rider through the eyes of three-day event rider Bubby Upton and through the lens of cutting-edge science.