UNDERSTANDING HORSE BAHAVIOUR.

The last few decades have seen enormous progress in our understanding of equine behaviour. In spite of this, it is all too easy to forget that the behaviour of horses is adapted to a free-ranging lifestyle in very different environments from those in which domestic horses are commonly kept. Not so very long ago horses were seen as having been set upon earth purely to serve humans. This has led to many people behaving as though horses exist purely for human convenience, and - as a result - ignoring (or overriding) their psychological and emotional needs. However, increasing numbers of horse owners, and horse lovers in general, are accepting that in return for what the horse gives us, we must pay attention to and - as far as we are able - satisfy their psychological and behavioural needs. The aim of Understanding Horse Behaviour is to help horse-owners (and horse lovers generally) to understand how domestic life - and the many demands we make of our horses, especially in training and competition - affect their behaviour and their psychological well-being. As a result, we will be able to enjoy happier, healthier relationships with our horses.