International Society for Equitation Science

Ep. 39 Can we use AI to understand how horses feel? With Dr. Claire Ricci-Bonot

In this episode, we explore new research on using facial expressions and artificial intelligence to identify emotional states in horses, moving beyond pain detection to include states like anticipation, frustration, and disappointment with Dr Claire Ricci-Bonot. With models reaching around 76% accuracy, the findings highlight both the potential and the limitations of using technology to assess equine emotion and welfare. Dr Claire Ricci-Bonot is an academic researcher specialising in animal behaviour, cognition, and welfare, with a primary focus on horses at the University of Lincoln. Her work explores equine emotions, social relationships, and stress, including topics such as social buffering, separation issues, and the use of AI to identify emotional states in horses. You can read this paper here: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0302893

Ep. 38 How Light Shapes Horse Health and Behaviour with Dr Barbara Murphy

In this episode, Dr. Barbara Murphy discusses equine chronobiology and the role of light in regulating the horse’s circadian rhythms and biological clock. We explore how light exposure influences sleep, behaviour, reproduction, and overall horse welfare, and how modern horse management can disrupt natural light cycles. Barbara also explains how research into photoperiod and circadian biology has led to practical applications in equine management and breeding, including the development of lighting technologies used within the global horse industry. This conversation highlights why understanding the relationship between light, physiology, and behaviour is important for improving horse welfare and evidence-based management. Dr. Barbara Anne Murphy is Programme Director of the BAgrSc Animal Science – Equine programme and Head of Equine Science at University College Dublin. Her research focuses on equine chronobiology and how light regulates biological rhythms that influence horse health, reproduction, and performance. Her work led to the development of the award-winning Equilume Light Mask, and she also serves as Chief Scientific Officer at Equilume Ltd. Read the paper here: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0326567

Ep 37. Rethinking Stallion Management Through Welfare Science

In this episode, Professor Christine Aurich discusses her review paper on the welfare of breeding stallions, exploring how social and emotional needs can be balanced alongside reproductive performance. The conversation challenges traditional management practices (particularly routine isolation) and examines how limited social contact can impact behaviour, health, and long-term wellbeing. We discuss the importance of early socialisation, life-stage development, group dynamics, and practical housing solutions such as bachelor systems and social contact through adjacent turnout. The episode also covers semen collection training, highlighting how calm, choice-based handling and consistent routines can improve both welfare and breeding outcomes. Overall, the discussion reinforces that reproductive success does not automatically equal good welfare and that with informed, evidence-based management, stallions can thrive both behaviourally and reproductively. Based on: Górecka-Bruzda, A., & Aurich, C. (2025). Importance of the social environment for reproductive and general welfare of domestic horse (Equus caballus) stallions. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 292, 106827. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106827 [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2025.106827]

Ep. 36 Can You Smell a Breathing Risk? What Hay Hygiene Tells Us About Equine Respiratory Health

In this episode, we explore how simple sensory checks (sight, touch, and smell) can help predict when hay may pose a respiratory risk for horses. We discuss how abnormal odour emerged as a strong indicator of harmful dust levels, how visible impurities relate to microbial contamination, and what this means for practical, low-cost screening tools in everyday stable management. In this episode, we are joined by Dr Virginie Bouverat and Professor Vinzenz Gerber discussing their paper titled: Sensory Assessment of Hay Samples: Abnormal Odor Predicts Increased Dust Levels and Impurities Suggest Microbiological Contamination Virginie is a Swiss equine veterinarian and researcher at ISME, focusing on how forage and bedding quality influence horse respiratory health. Vinzenz is a Swiss equine internal medicine specialist at ISME and the University of Bern, known for his work on equine asthma, genetics, and performance physiology. A link to their paper: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/18/2688 [https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/18/2688]

Ep 35. Using E-BARQ to Understand Off-the-Track Thoroughbred Behaviour

This podcast focused on discussing research findings about the behaviour of off-the-track thoroughbreds, with Annie and Kate sharing insights from their study using the E-BARQ behavioural assessment tool. The discussion highlighted how racing experiences may influence a horse's behaviour in second careers, challenging common assumptions about boldness and training responsiveness. Key findings included that off-the-track thoroughbreds showed greater exposure-related boldness but lower compliance to deceleration cues compared to other breeds. The conversation emphasised the importance of understanding each horse's individual history and implementing evidence-based training principles, particularly for 'basic' behaviours. Both speakers agreed that more research is needed to better support off-the-track horses and their new owners, with Kate suggesting that future studies could benefit from longitudinal tracking of the same horses over time. Read the paper here: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/14/2046