06/03/2026
🐴🧠 Wisdom Wednesday | Equitation Science Principle #2: Regard for the Nature of the Horse
The 2nd Equitation Science principle encourages us to view horses through a horse-centred lens. Rather than asking horses to adapt to our human-centered world alone, it asks us to consider how our management, training, and interactions align with horses’ innate needs and behavioural expressions.
It emphasizes that as humans we must first understand what makes a horse a horse, or what is the horse’s telos (Rollin 2012; the horseness of a horse). Horses are social animals designed to search for forage and move for most of the day. These behaviours are key to their survival, and the inability to perform them may be worse from the animals perspective than for instance compared to experiencing physical pain.
In training, many of the behaviours we observe in horses are not signs of disobedience or defiance, but rather natural responses shaped by their biology, social needs, and lived experiences
This principle reminds us to:
➡️ ensure horses’ innate needs are met, including opportunities for daily foraging, social contact with other horses, and freedom of movement
➡️ use training methods that promote horse learning and autonomy
➡️ use training techniques with align with hoses ability to learn (i.e., learning theory)
➡️ recognize that changes in behaviour may be indicators of pain, distress or confusion
➡️ respect the social nature of horses, including the importance of companionship, social touch, and the effects of separation
When horses’ behavioural and physical needs are met, they are better equipped to cope with their environment, learn effectively, and engage positively with humans. By respecting the nature of the horse, we can build relationships that are both safer and ethical.
Sincerely,
Dr. Megan Ross
