Species : Horses

Horses Prefer Their Rider: A Strange Situation Test Adaptation Shows Behavioural Evidence for Partner-Specific Bonding

B.A. Kovács, J. Topál, A. Gergely

Published in 2026

A study showing that horses exhibit closeness to and a preference for their riders, suggesting the existence of a particular social bond, but without clear evidence that this reassures them when they are presented with stressors. 

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Go to document

Consensus Report from the Havemeyer Working Group Meetings on Equine Pain Assessment

Hopster, K., Spadavecchia, C., Lindegaard, C., Dalla Costa, E., de Grauw, J., Gudden, D., Andersen, P.H., McDonnell, S., van Dierendonck, M., and van Loon, T.

Published in 2026

Report highlighting the complexity of pain assessment for horses and the lack of a single suitable tool. The authors recommend that use of the Equine Pain Scale should be standardized and that training and clinical integration should be carried out to improve welfare.

Document Types: Opinions

Animal categories: Equines

Go to document

Riding with care: A review of factors that influence the welfare of the ridden horse and a case for the application of the precautionary principle in equestrian pursuits

Caleigh Copelin, Katrina Merkies

Published in 2026

Review showing that the welfare of ridden horses is dependent on many factors relating to the equipment used, the rider, and a horse's health, and that respect for these factors is essential in maintaining the social acceptability that allows equestrian sports to continue. 

Document types: Scientific documents

Animal categories: Equines

Go to document

Human emotional odors influence horses' behavior and physiology

Plotine Jardat, Alexandra Destrez, Fabrice Damon, Noa Tanguy-Guillo, Anne-Lyse Lainé, Céline Parias, Fabrice Reigner, Vitor H. B. Ferreira, Ludovic Calandreau, Léa Lansade

Published in 2026

Scientific study showing that human odors associated with fear produce heightened fear responses in horses and reduced interactions with humans. These results show the key role of olfactory signals in interspecies emotional communication between humans and horses..

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Go to document

The use of animal-based measures collected in slaughterhouses to monitor the level of welfare of Equidae in establishments: EFSA scientific NCPs Network exercise

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Marika Vitali, Giulia Cecchinato, Aitana López Baquero, Beatrice Benedetti, Denise Candiani, Michaela Hempen, Yves Van der Stede, Chiara Fabris

Published in 2025

Exercise carried out by EFSA's scientific network of national contact points to identify and prioritize animal-based measures collected at abattoirs to retrospectively monitor the welfare of equidae, to provide evidence for a future scientific opinion.

Document types: Technical Paper

Animal categories: Equines

A systematic review of the effect of individual characteristics and management practices on equine cognition

Ricci-Bonot, C., Brosche, K., Baragli, P., Nicol C.

Published in 2025

Review summarizing current knowledge on equine cognition, stressing  the broad range of cognitive abilities investigated and the strong influence of contextual factors (breed, age, sex and management conditions) on performance.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Equines

Go to document

Using deep learning models to decode emotional states in horses

Phelipon, R., Lansade, L. & Razzaq, M.

Published in 2025

Scientific article describing the development of two machine learning models for predicting  emotional states in ridden horses based on head and body images.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Go to document

Importance of the social environment for reproductive and general welfare of domestic horse (Equus caballus) stallions

Aleksandra Górecka-Bruzda, Christine Aurich

Published in 2025

Study highlighting the fact that the social isolation of domestic stallions, a common on-farm practice,  leads to stress, stereotypies and reproductive disorders. It recommends that they be provided with greater social contact and conditions approaching their natural way of life, to improve their welfare and fertility.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Equines

Go to document

Grief-like distress responses in horses after the death of a conspecific

Claire Ricci-Bonot, Emily Wilson, Stefania Uccheddu, Daniel Simon Mills

Published in 2025

Study showing that the loss of the companionship of another equid frequently leads to behavioral changes in horses (excitement, alertness, vocalizations, interactions) lasting up to 6 months, especially when there has been a strong emotional bond. The authors suggest that these behavioral changes could be grief-related. 

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Go to document

Shelter use in horses: Time spent indoors and factors of variation - Results from a one-year longitudinal study

Léa Lansade, Julie Lemarchand, Alice Ruet

Published in 2025

Study showing that, when horses are free to go indoors or outdoors, they choose to spend an average of 3 hours a day in their stalls, but there is considerable individual and seasonal variability in their choices. These results stress the importance of allowing horses freedom of movement so that their needs and welfare can be better catered to. 

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Equines

Go to document