Latest Horse Articles & News

In the past, twin births have been known to account for up to 30% of abortion rates in horses. Although the incidence of twin births is low at just 1-2%, when it does occur, it can cause serious health and welfare consequences and result in economic loss to owners.

US-based equine reproductive specialist, Dr Karen Wolfsdorf, will discuss techniques that horse owners can implement to avoid twin losses during the Australian Veterinary Association’s (AVA) Bain Fallon Memorial Lectures today.

Scientists demonstrated for the first time that horses integrate human facial expressions and voice tones to perceive human emotion, regardless of whether the person is familiar or not.

Recent studies showed the herd-forming animal possesses high communication capabilities, and can read the emotions of their peers through facial expressions and contact calls, or whinnies. Horses have long been used as a working animal and also as a companion animal in sports and leisure, establishing close relationships with humans just like dogs do with people.

A Loughborough University academic is to assess how equine assisted activities and therapy (EAAT) impacts people living with and beyond cancer.

For three years, Dr Carly Butler, of the School of Social, Political and Geographical Sciences, will be evaluating a new Macmillan Cancer Support service launched in Derbyshire that aims to use horses to improve the emotional health of people affected by cancer.

Thoroughbred racehorses have something of a reputation. The perception is that they are generally trained for one job, to run fast. The expectations for other desired behaviours, e.g. to lead correctly, stop lightly, accept hoof handling, and other maintenance procedures and to keep their heads in stressful situations might fall by the wayside; as long as they can run!