Australian researchers have determined that a little mental warm-up to prepare your horse for learning can go a long way toward effective, ethical training. | Photo: Thinkstock

Is your horse ready to learn? Australian researchers have determined that a little mental warm-up to prepare your horse for learning can go a long way toward effective, ethical training.

“Increasing the arousal level of horses prior to a training session could improve learning performance and safeguard equine welfare by reducing stress reactions during the training session,” said Paul McGreevy, BVSc, PhD, MRCVS, MACVS (Animal Welfare), professor of animal behavior and animal welfare science at the University of Sydney.

McGreevy presented the work of his student, Kate Fenner, BEqSci Hons, of Kandoo Equine, in Towrang, Australia, during the 2016 International Society for Equitation Science conference, held June 23-26 in Saumur, France