Genuine Equine

There is absolutely no excuse why we as a community are so bad at reading our horses’ most basic communication signs, and it needs to be better. This study focuses on professionals’ reflections on how caretakers mistake, distort, and vilify natural horse behaviors. If you don’t want to take it from me that there’s a problem, take it from the professionals!

When we know better, we can do better. Some places to start are offered in the last slide: the book “Language Signs and Calming Signals of Horses” by Rachael Draaisma & the horse grimace scale (HGS) by Dalla Costa et al.

We can make a big improvement in this area by just slowing down and listening to our horses when they say “no” or show small signs or discomfort. Plus, it’ll keep us safer too!

Link to the study: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/21/2904/htm

Your horse doesn’t necessarily need a job; they need their 5 freedoms met and the opportunity to be a horse!

Link to the study: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0737080612007356