AMB Stables

05/11/2026

Wow!! It's not animal related but I just had to share. What a cool idea and amazing experience this would be!!

05/05/2026

1 opening coming up!

05/05/2026

**OPENING**
We have an opening for one new client on Tuesdays at 4:45pm starting June 2, 2026. Get in touch if you’re interested in this prime spot!

Amanda

04/14/2026

This!

YOUR HORSES ARE WATCHING YOU – AND LEARNING MORE THAN YOU THINK

As you go about your daily routine looking after your horses – maybe opening gates, switching on lights, lifting latches – it’s easy to assume your horse is just waiting. But research suggests they may be watching closely, and learning from what you do.

A study from the University of Regensburg investigated whether horses could learn a completely new task just by observing a human. Twenty-four horses were introduced to a feed box that could only be opened by pressing a switch positioned a short distance away. All horses were first allowed to eat from the open box so they understood it contained food, before being tested on how to access it once closed.

The horses were then split into two groups. One group watched a familiar human demonstrator press the switch, walk to the box, and take food from inside. The other group received no demonstration and simply explored the setup themselves. Horses were given repeated trials over several days to see whether they could learn to operate the switch.

The results showed clear differences between the two groups. Eight out of twelve horses who observed the human learned to press the switch and open the box, compared to just two out of twelve in the control group. This strongly suggests that the horses were learning through observation, not just trial and error.

Individual horses also differed in how they solved the task. Some used their lips, others their teeth, and some pawed at the switch. One horse succeeded almost immediately, while another required many more repetitions. The demonstrator was always someone familiar, which is important, as horses are known to pay more attention to people they recognise.

So, if horses can learn to manipulate a novel object like this just by watching us, how much are they learning from us every day, without us even realising?

Study: Social learning across species: Horses (Equus caballus) learn from humans by observations, Animal Cognition (2016)

02/24/2026

Fredericton area!

02/12/2026

“He gets stressed in turnout.”

“He doesn’t like turnout. He loves his stall.”

“Not all horses like turnout.”

These are common excuses we see used by people to justify confining horses to stalls for the majority of their day.

Ironically, the people making these excuses almost never apply the same logic to similar stress behaviours seen under saddle.

The horse that bites at the person saddling them? Quirky. Or a sassy mare.

The horse who tries to evade being mounted and is difficult at the mounting block? Raring to go, doesn’t like standing.

The horse who refuses fences? Needs more training.

The horse who runs through the bridle and tries to bolt? Needs a stronger bit.

The horse who bucks people off? Spirited and needs more “wet saddle pads.”

What do all of these excuses have in common?

They seek to explain away stress behaviours and provide “training solutions.”

They do not view the behaviours as a statement that the horse does not want to be ridden.

They view them as a problem to be fixed.

So, why, when horses experience turnout stress that dramatically impacts their quality of life and exponentially increases their risk of health issues like colic, is it labelled as the horse’s preference?

People should be MORE motivated to fix stress behaviours that impact their horses’ day to day wellbeing.

Riding is not necessary. It also encompasses maybe 1 hour of the horse’s day.

Lifestyle choices like turnout time encompass the other 23 hours and are necessary for good welfare.

If humans are more motivated to fix issues that impact their ability to enjoy riding their horse than they are issues that impact the horse’s long term health and wellbeing… there’s no way around it:

It’s selfish.

02/10/2026

"There are times you need the silence of animals to recover from humans"

02/10/2026

A handy little visual of where to listen for gut sounds!

When your veterinarian comes out to your barn for a colicking horse, you may have seen her use a stethoscope to listen to your horse's abdomen. Your vet is listening for borborygmi, colloquially called gut sounds, which can tell her a lot about what is causing your horse's discomfort.

When a horse is experiencing digestive upset, the presence, character, and type of gut sounds changes. Sounds may be absent, more frequent, higher-pitched, or echoing.

Low-pitched gurgling and rumbling gut sounds can be heard constantly in a normal horse. Practice listening to each quadrant of the abdomen when your horse is healthy, so you know what is normal for him/her.

Learn more about gut sounds at the link in the comments.

02/02/2026

Accepting new clients as of March 1 2026. Please contact today to get on our list!

01/15/2026

Barn Day is this Saturday!

All CURRENT AMB Stables members are invited to join us in the afternoon for some fun, non-riding activities. Lend a hand around the barn, play in the arena, spend time with horses, bunnies, pigs, and other animals, or help organize the tack and feed rooms. Be sure to dress for the weather and bring your own lunch or snacks along with a water bottle. We hope to see you anytime after 12:30 p.m. on Saturday!

Pick-up time can be anywhere between 4-5pm.

01/09/2026

We’re now welcoming new clients! Get in touch with us today—we’d be thrilled to hear from you