Samantha Couper - Equine ABCs

09/17/2025

DO HORSES NOTICE HOW WE TREAT EACH OTHER?

What if horses are paying attention not just to what we ask of them, but to how we treat each other? A recent study suggests they do — and that what they observe could change how they behave.

Researchers from Germany and Scotland tested whether horses, after watching people interacting, would change their feeding choices.

Study details:

• The experiment involved 17 horses, ranging from 4 to 28 years old, across 5 private yards

• Horses observed a human demonstration: a person taking carrot pieces from one bucket while another human gave clear approval (body language + voice), and doing the same from another bucket but receiving disapproval

• After watching this six times, horses were allowed to choose between the buckets — though previously they had no preference and had eaten from both.

What the researchers found:

• 12 out of 17 horses changed their preference after observing the human-to-human approval interaction. They were more likely to pick from the bucket associated with approval

• Horses kept in social housing (open stabling or paddocks with others) showed this adaptation more strongly than those in more isolated housing.

Why it matters:

• Horses aren’t just responding to their direct training—they notice how we interact with others and use those cues, even if the humans involved aren’t interacting with them. What humans do matters.

Take-home messages:

• Pay attention to how people behave around your horse—not just how they behave with the horse. The horse is learning from what people do

• Horses kept socially do better at these sorts of observational tasks. Isolation doesn’t just affect their mood — it seems to limit what they can learn

• When training or managing horses, think about the environment: who’s around, what behaviour the horse is witnessing, and how interactions outside of training may still contribute to the horse’s learning experiences.

Do you think your horse picks up on how you interact with others — not just with them?

Study: Krueger et al (2025). Learning from eavesdropping on human-human encounters changes feeding location choice in horses (Equus Caballus).

09/01/2025

PRACTICE SKILLS BEFORE YOU NEED THEM

Don’t wait for an emergency to get your horses prepared. Good skills come from good, clean training again and again. When we’re stressed, our skillsets deteriorate. Likewise, when a horse is stressed their responses often deteriorate too. The best way to combat that is to ensure your skills are superb outside of the emergency.

Someday, I may have to lead and load both of these horses without any help. Or, someone else may have to. With both horses, we practice alone first. We train for leading by my side and behind. You never know what type of leading you’re going to need, so ideally a horse should be comfortable leading behind you or next to you. And if you’re using food to train where to walk, you want to do those patterns again and again so that they are your horse’s default position even when they’re scared.

Practicing for the real moment also gives you a chance to see what configuration your horses do better rather than fighting with it in the moment. The black horse much prefers to be behind a ways. If I want him to lead comfortably to my left we need to practice a lot more with just he and I. But he’s incredibly soft to lead and responds to incredibly light feel so this setup will work for us in an emergency and I know it will keep the horse’s stress levels lower than another configuration. Did you see how subtle of a cue it took to move the black horse more to my left side?

Nova, on the other hand, needs some more practice leading solo and right at my shoulder. You can see she has the slight tendency to pull ahead, so we’ll want to make sure she knows the pattern of where to be like the back of her hoof. We will also want her responding as soft as butter to pressure on her nose, so she will automatically slow down to that feeling without me having to exert any additional pressure on her head.

They’re both doing great, but practicing for these moments has highlighted some areas for improvement and also shone some light on some things they are doing great on!

08/25/2025

I see more ' problem horses" that are the result of conventional " wisdom" than I ever see from abuse.

That's not to say that the conventional "wisdom" isn't sometimes abusive. It is just widely accepted in the industry that it is fair.
At the start of my career I mainly worked with troubled horses. The buckers, bolsters, spookers, and horses that wouldn't trailer load.
If people weren't sure of a horses history, they would often comment that the horse must have been abused, but when there was a known history, they were usually confused. In fact, they often didn't think their horse was displyaing these behaviors due to anxiety. They were only convinced once we worked on relaxation, and the behaviors no longer presented.

Abuse, or at least the overt form of abuse, with handlers beating horses, is actually rare. Most horse people genuinely love horses.
The trouble is our indistry wide understanding of fair practice.
The number of horses with aggressive and/or anxiety driven behaviors that are the direct results of isolation is staggering. Even with the push for education on species appropriate needs, it is still accepted practice to keep horses in isolation. I still have a social media feed full of adverts for livery with " individual turn out'.
When it gets to handling, people are taught to tightly restrain horses, whether just leading on a short lead, or to perform management tasks. Restraining a prey animal causes anxiety, and they fight to get away. We ignore their natural behavior, and cause undesirable behavior.

As for riding, I could fill a book with reasons conventional riding "wisdom" causes behavioral issues, but a simple example is that horses are started under saddle with contact, which from a physics point of view prevents forward motion, then they are driven forward from legs, spurs or crops. Very conflicting cues for a young horse, already worried about a predator climbing on their back.

Horses being lunged in draw-reins, or tied to patiance poles, or halter trained by being tied to donkeys... These are all things I come across that cause major behavioral issues, but the industry as a whole often deems perfectly normal practices.
Before you declare that your horse must have faced abuse, make sure your industry sanctioned training and management isn't to blame.

08/25/2025

The entire time spent training (including getting the food together) over all 3 sessions was 6 minutes. Mistakes included because it’s important to show we all make them.

08/24/2025

TRANS-SPECIES PSYCHOLOGY IS NOT ANTHROPOMORPHISM

Both anthropomorphism - attributing human traits to animals - and anthropodenial can be problematic for several reasons:

1. Misunderstanding Behaviour: Misinterpretation of emotional state, such as assuming a dog's wagging tail always indicates happiness, or using 'one-technique-fits-all' practices.

2. Ethical Issues: It may justify the misuse and/or mistreatment of animals in particular contexts (e.g. entertainment, research) or more generally.

3. Biased Research: resulting in, and building upon, skewed scientific observations and conclusions.

4. Conservation Impact: Unrealistic expectations can affect conservation efforts, and lead to dangerous human-wildlife interactions.

5. Cultural Misrepresentations: perpetuating stereotypes and misconceptions, resulting in falsely-confident cultural belief and institutional bias.

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08/24/2025

Rethinking your reinforcement routines will change your whole relationship with using food in training.

Reinforcement is not just food, it is a behaviour in its own right. And your reinforcement routine is more powerful than you think.

I’ve already shared how I ALWAYS introduce the reinforcement routine (how the food or scratches will be delivered) before asking for any behaviour, and how that routine effectively becomes the last link in a behaviour chain.

There are many different ways to deliver reinforcement. The routine you choose can, and should, help shape the rhythm of a session. It should put the horse back into the ready position to recreate the behaviour again with the best chance of success.

Most people only ever learn the option of delivering food from their hand to the horse’s mouth. This is a perfectly good routine and it also functions beautifully as a distraction if you need to change your own position, such as switching sides.

You could also drop food into a bucket. This is especially useful for cooperative care or behaviours that require stillness. Just remember that even if your horse eats from a bucket every day, you may still need to teach the bucket routine as if it were something new 😉. A bucket, or a mat on the floor, also gives you a clear ready signal when your horse lifts their head to say, “I’m finished and ready to go again.”

We can also walk and feed on the go for movement behaviours that we would rather not interrupt. This one should be used carefully, and only after you and your horse have learned the skill.

Another variation is the 'click and walk to food' routine. This is handy for transitions such as halt to walk, where you might ask for the walk, mark the transition, and then continue a few strides to the reinforcement point. Like everything else, this routine has to be taught and shaped.

One of my favourites is the cup on a stick lure (thanks Kay Laurence). I will often use this instead of a target to build movement. It might be a large cup measure secured to a bamboo pole, or even a pinch of haylage between barbecue tongs. As with any lure, it needs to be carefully taught, shaped, AND always faded out.

The important thing is not which routine you choose but that you keep it clear and consistent. When your horse knows exactly how reinforcement will arrive, the behaviour chain becomes predictable. That predictability reduces frustration and creates that wonderful 'oh, I know what to do' feeling, especially when you start chaining behaviours together or thinning reinforcement.

So instead of thinking of reinforcement as just food or scratches, think of it as a behaviour in its own right- behaviours that can, and should, be taught and developed.

Do you have a favourite reinforcement routine?

08/20/2025

Pain can also create food aggression where it did not exist before. We can never rule it out, but changing feeding strategies is often a cheaper and easier step to be done in tandem with veterinary care.

Disclaimer: Don’t leave out a pan of high value supplement like this! We all make mistakes, as I did here. Thankfully they are both pretty relaxed around food, but if I did this everyday, I would end up with a problem that was completely avoidable.

08/17/2025

This is incredible to see. Horses have excellent senses of smell and I love that they’re entering the spotlight more and more!

https://www.krtv.com/first-native-led-equine-air-scent-search-and-rescue-team-launches-on-blackfeet-reservation?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR5q0vQZ-gQ0Dzw1fpevVJ6m92cmxVFP4GdwnO6Z6WQ3J1eP_BiQGGiur2I1eQ_aem_ZaDcxQJaJaFOwZrwlq_42g

History was recently made as the Blackfeet Nation proudly became home to the first Native-led equine air scent detection Search and Rescue (SAR) team.

08/17/2025

IS POOR HORSE WELFARE PUTTING RIDERS AT RISK?

We often talk about horse welfare as an ethical issue — but new research suggests it also has direct consequences for rider safety. This study compared several riding facilities and examined how horse health, management, and human–horse interactions related to accidents during riding lessons.

The differences were striking. Horses in environments that supported their welfare — fewer health problems, better overall condition, and more relaxed behaviour around people — were linked with far fewer rider falls. In contrast, the horses experiencing poor welfare – those living with chronic pain, showing aggression or withdrawal, or suffering health concerns such as anaemia, were associated with a higher rate of rider accidents.

The way horses were treated also made a significant difference. Those given patient, considerate handling both in everyday care and during riding — showed clear welfare benefits. In contrast, when interactions were rushed, minimal, or focused only on getting the job done, welfare indicators worsened and safety risks increased.

Management factors also influenced outcomes. Facilities where horses had regular turnout and where instruction prioritised the horse’s comfort, rather than strict control, reported both higher welfare standards and safer riding environments.

The message seems clear. Even small improvements in management — such as more time outdoors or a shift in training approach — can bring benefits that go beyond horse welfare alone. They make riding safer for people too.

The findings are a reminder that welfare is not only an ethical responsibility but also brings a practical benefit. Prioritising welfare leads to safer and healthier horses, benefiting both horses and people.

Full study: L. Gueguen et al (2025). Differences between facilities in horse welfare profiles: slight differences in management/working conditions may be enough. Animal, 19(6).

08/12/2025

I really hope I can go to this next year. I absolutely love that UC Davis puts it on!

𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐖𝐒 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐩 🎤🫏

"𝐒𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡: Exploring the balance between research, experience, and evolving knowledge in donkey care.”

𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬: Oct 4–5, 2025 • UC Davis (in-person & virtual)

𝐊𝐞𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞& 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬:

𝐃𝐫. 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐱 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐧 — Information Quality & Analysis, Parasites, Tetanus
𝐃𝐫. 𝐋𝐚𝐢𝐬 𝐑. 𝐑. 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐚 — DWS Director, session intros, lab coordination
𝐃𝐫. 𝐍𝐨ë𝐥 𝐃𝐲𝐛𝐝𝐚𝐥 — Information Quality & Metabolic panels

𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬:

𝐃𝐫. 𝐄𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐥 — Cancer in Donkeys (+ panel)
𝐃𝐫. 𝐄𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐖. 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐬 — The Second Opinion (+ Parasite, Keratoma, Castration panels)
𝐃𝐫. 𝐂𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐲 𝐗𝐮 — PPID, EMS, Insulin Dysregulation
𝐃𝐫. 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐧 𝐅𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐳 — Keratomas: Diagnosis & Treatment
𝐂𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐲 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐬 — My Path to Nutritional Knowledge; Hoof & Behavior Lab
𝐃𝐫. 𝐄𝐫𝐢𝐧 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐡 — Metabolic Disease Lab Tests
𝐌𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐧 𝐇𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐲 — Effective & Humane Hoof Rehab (debuting the first donkey hoof boot + 3D Printed Donkey Squish Pad)
𝐃𝐫. 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐫 — Botulism
𝐃𝐫. 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐔𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐚 — Castrations in Large Numbers

𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬-𝐎𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐬:

𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐋𝐚𝐛 — Alex Thiemann, Eric Davis, UC Davis Pathology Club
𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐫 & 𝐇𝐨𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐛 𝐋𝐚𝐛 — Megan Hensley, Karin Kelso, Cindy Davis

𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬:

𝐊𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧 𝐊𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐨 — Hoof Rehab Panel + Lab Co-Lead
𝐃𝐫. 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐨 — Clostridium Panel
𝐔𝐂 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐬 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐛 — Parasitology Lab support (with Alex & Eric)

This lineup is absolutely stacked with some of the most passionate, experienced, and knowledgeable donkey experts in the world—coming together for two days of unmatched learning and connection.

⬇️ 𝐒𝐞𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐂𝐄 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐬, 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐝𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨.

08/10/2025

Practical day is always so eye-opening!

The Practical Day of Understand Horses Live is underway at Nottingham Trent University, NTU Equine Brackenhurst.

Arena demos, workshops and classroom sessions include -

• Recognising and reducing stress

• Identifying abnormal behaviours during tacking up

• The art of easy training

• Equine preference tests

• Reducing equine stress in novel environments

• Horse-human interaction using eye tracking technology

• Mind-body connection through exercise

• Investigating and identifying the causes of problem behaviour

Presenters:
Roxane Kirton The Equine Behaviour Vet
Holly Gallacher
Trudi Dempsey: Equine Trainer and Behaviour Consultant
Samantha Couper - Equine ABCs
Rosa Verwijs
Jo Hockenhull
Kelly Yarnell
Nicola Gregory

08/09/2025

Having a wonderful time so far! Getting to see some amazing presentations and getting to share lots of good information on wild horses!

Attendees of the Lecture Day at Understand Horses Live are enjoying some fascinating presentations today on a range of equine subjects, including -

• The gut-brain axis in horses

• Assessing complex horse behaviour problems

• Gastric ulcers & unwanted behaviour

• Horse-human relationships

• Human psychology of horse face processing

• Housing equines for optimal welfare

• Improving equine quality of life

• Eye tracking technology in horse-human interaction

• A day in the life of a wild horse

• Rethinking rein aids

Presenters:
Justine Harrison - Equine Behaviourist
Trudi Dempsey: Equine Trainer and Behaviour Consultant
The Equine Behaviour Vet
Emma Lethbridge Horsemanship
Samantha Couper - Equine ABCs
Nicola Gregory
Jo Hockenhull
Carol Hall
Kelly Yarnell