Latest Articles
Found in Translation
Vocalizations are part of communication, and we have a pretty good idea of what it means when we hear a horse squeal, or a dog growl. But these are generalizations. Even vocalizations that seem to have one specific meaning (because they are often associated with one context), may actually ...
The Complete Picture
A tail held high usually means a high emotional state of arousal or excitement, but that on its own does not tell you whether an animal is in a positive or negative emotional state.
High arousal can be appetitive, meaning the animal is interested and anticipating something good, or ...
More Articles
Training Horses with Positive Reinforcement: Taking Cues from the Dog World
...horses in the wild do not have a strict dominance hierarchy, and your horse is not trying to dominate you if he does something you don't want him to. Horses do not like physical pain any more than we do. This is not a good way to teach ...
Group Housing Solutions
By Kathie Gregory
Horses have evolved as a social species to live in groups. The group is essential to the survival of the species, providing safety in numbers, working together to detect and assess any potential threat. The ...
Stable Life
By Kathie Gregory
In the equine world, I would say it is widely accepted that a horse may live the majority of his life in a stable, and, in my opinion, there is far less awareness concerning the impact this ...
A Natural Kind of Training
By Max Easey
When we use pressure or discomfort to get what we want, then what’s in it for the horse to do things with us? Isn’t she just “behaving” because it is unpleasant for her if she does not? Isn’t it ...
Social Relationships in the Domestic Horse
By Kathie Gregory
Within the daily routine, there are opportunities for horses to meet each other and start the beginnings of social interaction, whether they are in hand, being ridden or in neighboring ...
An Alternative Perspective
By Sara Richter
It is no surprise that horses perceive the world differently than humans do...Dr. Temple Grandin describes the vision of horses in her 1989 piece, By Dr. Lisel O'Dwyer Since I began clicker training, I have observed horse owners have a few misconceptions about clicker training, such as: By Kathie Gregory What is often missing in the horse human relationship is “conversation.” In many instances, communication with a horse often involves telling him what to do. If he does not comply, he is ...
From the Horse’s Mouth
• Hand feeding is dangerous, making the horse mouthy
A Two-Way Conversation