Equitation science is an academic field of study that looks at equine behavior and welfare, as well as how horses and humans interact.

When it comes to training, riding, housing, and caring for horses, most equestrians strive to keep their animals in situations that promote good welfare. But how can we be sure that our practices—maybe that have been passed down from generation to generation—are actually in our horses' best interests? Thanks to equitation science, leading researchers are working to put science behind our day-to-day interactions with horses.

We've collected five resources available for free on TheHorse.com that both review the concept of equitation science and show how it could help improve how we care for, manage, and train our horses.

For more resources, search "equitation science," or view the horsemanship science subtopic on TheHorse.com