Recent revelations within the horse sector have highlighted a need for increased awareness of animal welfare and an acceptance of the horse as a sentient being. Horse training may be regarded as a one-way communication directed from the trainer (giving the cue) to the horse (learning to respond correctly to the cue). Alternatively, horse training can be regarded as an interaction involving both human and horse, asking for a two-way communication. This calls for an interdisciplinary approach, for investigating the connection between owner awareness and horse welfare.

The main objective of the project is to contribute to increased horse welfare by enhancing awareness and creating a deeper understanding of horses among equestrian students, and ultimately in the horse sector. This will be done along four scientific work packages, using an already developed method for communication as a model.

We will recruit equestrian students in Norway and Sweden, all together 24 students all having disposition of two horses each, to the study. They will be taught the method in which horses learn to communicate whether they wish to wear a blanket or not, make use of a simple symbol language (WP1). Students who succeed, will then be invited to participate in a study on blanket preferences in sweaty horse, a topic frequently asked and where there currently exists a knowledge gap (WP2).

All students included in WP1 will be interviewed about their attitudes, beliefs and views on horses and horse training at three stages; before they start, during teaching and after the end of the sweaty horse trial, to study whether the education leads to any change in these aspects (WP3). Information gathered in WP1-3 will feed into the production of the handbook, which will explain step-by-step how horses are trained, using both text and video clips. The handbook, which will be made freely available, is the final tool to transfer the symbol method to professionals as well to the general public.

In collaboration with:

• NIBIO (project leader)
• NMBU
• Trondheim hundeskole
• Strömsholm Equestrial Center
• University of Malmö