Equinews

Can Ponies Distinguish Human Facial Expressions?

Updated:

November 21, 2022

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Most humans are good at giving someone a wide berth if they approach with a furrowed brow, but how good are horses at interpreting our expressions? Dr. Katrina Merkies, researcher and associate professor at the University of Guelph, and her team found out in a study involving 20 lesson ponies and some talented actors.

Use of Tools by Horses

Updated:

November 8, 2022

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It used to be thought that using tools was one of the things that set us apart from the animal kingdom. However, it is now known that some species use tools. Reports include chimps using sticks to reach food, sea otters using stones to break open shellfish, and even elephants deactivating an electric fence by dropping rocks on it.

Stephen Clarke Clinics Return

Updated:

November 4, 2022

Canadian Dressage Owners and Riders Association Inc. (CADORA) was pleased to welcome FEI 5* Dressage Judge, Stephen Clarke, back to Canada in 2022 to present two Build a Better Dressage Horse clinics. The clinics were held September 24-25 at M2 Dressage in Millgrove, Ontario, and October 1-2 at Fairlawn Equestrian Centre in Brentwood Bay, BC.

10th Anniversary of the Saskatchewan Equine Expo a Big Success

Updated:

November 1, 2022

Prairieland organizers and the Saskatchewan Equine Expo committee would like to thank their partners, the Saskatchewan Horse Federation, and the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, as well as the sponsors, media and volunteers, all of whom helped make the 10th Annual Saskatchewan Equine Expo such a wonderful success.

Long-Term Horse-Owner Relationship Helps Horses Cope With Change

Updated:

October 27, 2022

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A new study shows that horses can be more reluctant in new situations if they have multiple riders or have had several owners, or if the horse has been with its current owner for only a short time. The international research team, including scientists from Turku and Helsinki Universities in Finland and the INRAE of Nouzilly in France, studied interactions between horses and humans as well as how horses react in new situations. The findings are published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science.

Identifying Pain Behaviours in Ridden Horses

Updated:

October 13, 2022

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“Bad” horse behaviour, frequently labelled as resistant, lazy, or even explosive, can be an indicator of pain according to equine orthopaedics expert Dr. Sue Dyson.

New research by the Alberta Equestrian Federation shows significant contribution by equine community

Updated:

September 16, 2022

A 2021 study conducted by the Alberta Equestrian Federation (AEF) found the diverse mix of equine ownership and activities in our province had a significant financial impact on Alberta’s economy. In terms of gross domestic product, Alberta’s equine community contributed nearly $1.4 billion.