horse behaviour — Blog - Horse Behaviour

Winter is a tough time for all horse owners and it can be tough for our horses too. Many need to be stabled in the evening, long nights can mean long hours stood in. Horses actually spend a small portion of their day sleeping so what do they do all night? What would they be doing if they had a choice?

Anyone who knows me will know how much value I put on environmental enrichment and I wanted to spend some time looking at what enrichment is and why it is so important that we increase the use of it across the board for our horses, donkeys and mules and start to view it as part of everyday management instead of an added extra. Ultimately horses are a captive species that are commonly kept in an environment which restricts and limits their display of natural behaviours, enrichment is not just for zoo animals but for all animals that are kept in a restricted environment.

Environmental enrichment is how we adapt the available environment to optimise an animals sensory stimulation and provide choice. We can positively influence our equids emotional state and therefore their welfare by providing a complex environment for them to occupy.

Self Isolation and Choice

Choice is linked to positive behaviour outcomes, we are more likely to feel happier, healthier and will persevere longer if we have the perception of choice. How much choice does you horse have during a day? How can we increase the choices we make available to them?

horse stablingKayna PrescottMarch 21, 2020horse behaviour, social isolation, horse enrichment, box rest, horse, pony

Grazing Muzzles - Love them or hate them ?

Grazing muzzles, love them or hate them they are a regularly used part of our equine weight management regime. Do they do what we think they do and how do they affect the equids that wear them?

How can you apply the principle of LIMA to your horses life ?

LIMA - Least Intrusive Minimally Aversive. A principle that should be applied in every aspect of horse ownership and training.

Kayna PrescottAugust 29, 2019cornwall, horse behaviour, behaviour problem, horse, ethical horse training, horsemanship

My horse wont leave his friend

Does your horse nap? Will he leave his friends? Does your horse get anxious when other horses leave him ? Separation anxiety is a common problem for horse owners, horse behaviour informed training can help