How horses perceive their world—What can practitioners share with their clients to enhance safety and welfare?

Abstract

This chapter explores equine sensory modalities, highlighting the distinct perceptual abilities of horses. As with humans, vision, hearing, olfaction, taste, and touch comprise the equine sensory apparatus and impact responses to the environment. However, differences in horse and human range and capacity necessitate an understanding of equine perception for positive horse-human interactions. Horses have a unique sensory landscape with panoramic visual abilities, superior aural capabilities, and a highly developed sense of smell. The importance of proper tactile stimulation, a communication channel used in daily interactions, is emphasized. The discussion extends to sensory enrichment techniques, proposing the use of odors, touch, and sound to enhance horse welfare. Factors like breed, individuality, age, and color further shape equine perception, stressing the need for tailored management strategies. As a crucial aspect of equitation science, understanding equine sensory abilities remains pivotal, urging continued scientific analysis for a holistic understanding of diverse equine needs.

Keywords

Perception; Sense; Eye; Nose; Skin; Ear; Mouth; Welfare; Safety; Enrichment

Published in

Title: Equine Welfare in Clinical Practice : How and Why to Incorporate Equine Behavior and Welfare Assessments into Clinical Practice
Publisher: Academic Press

SLU Authors

• Vilain Rörvang, Maria

  • Department of Biosystems and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Medical Bioscience

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-99508-5.00015-X
• ISBN: 9780323995085
• eISBN: 9780323995092

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/139693