Why does equine ethology matter to your horse?

Understanding how horses behave in their natural environment offers powerful insights into their needs, motivations, and how they communicate with both us and each other. Equine ethology - the scientific study of horse behaviour in wild or free-roaming conditions - sheds light on fundamental principles of equine behaviour. But what can ethology really teach us about the horses we work with every day?

In this webinar, equine ethologist Samantha Couper introduces key principles of ethology and how it helps us better understand horses. You’ll learn how behaviour is recorded in the field and what we know so far about the natural behaviour patterns of horses around the world. We'll discuss how ethological research can be applied to domestic horses to improve training, management, and welfare.

Key topics covered:

• What equine ethology is – and how it differs from other approaches to studying behaviour

• The importance of observing horses without human interference

• An introduction to how horses behave in natural, free-living conditions

• What ethological studies reveal about broadscale patterns in horse social bonds, herd structure, and communication

• How natural behavior shapes the behavioral responses of our domestic horses to handling, husbandry, and training

• How ethological insights can improve horse welfare

• Why understanding species-typical behaviour is essential for ethical training and behaviour modification