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THE RIDER IN THE EQUATION: WHAT PERSONALITY RESEARCH SAYS ABOUT HORSE WELFARE

A German study of nearly 500 equestrians has found that a rider's self-esteem, empathy and adaptability measurably shape how horse-centred their riding is, and how their horse experiences the relationship. It is one of the more useful welfare studies to come out in a while, because it turns the lens away from the horse and…

BylizzieJuly 7, 20260Comments

Horse Channel

FEI HORSE CONDITIONG TASK FORCE MEETS

On 29 June 2026, the FEI's newly formed Horse Condition Task Force held its first working session at FEI headquarters in Lausanne. Representatives from across the sport agreed that welfare should sit at the centre of any new rules on blood, though the meeting produced no concrete rule changes and no timeline for when any…

BylizzieJuly 5, 20260Comments

Horse Health

WEIGHT MANAGEMENT

Is your horse in ideal condition? Stand at any South African livery yard in late October and you will see the same pattern repeating: horses who looked reasonable in July are suddenly developing cresty necks and filling out behind the shoulders. The spring grass has arrived, and with it, the annual battle against equine obesity…

BylizzieMay 20, 20260Comments

Horse Health

THE RIDDEN HORSE

Welfare and the precautionary principle A University of Guelph review argues that many long-accepted riding practices deserve closer scrutiny, even where definitive evidence of harm is still lacking. A review by Caleigh Copelin and Katrina Merkies, published in the March 2026 edition of the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, makes the case that modern equestrianism is…

BylizzieMay 14, 20260Comments

Horse Health

SCIENCE LEADS THE WAY IN TEACHING HOW TO BETTER ASSESS OUR HORSE’S EMOTIONS

It is one of the most unsettling findings to emerge from equine welfare science in recent years: most people, including experienced equestrians, are significantly worse at recognising pain in horses than they are at spotting discomfort in other humans, and in an animal whose evolutionary survival has depended on concealing vulnerability, that gap has serious…

BylizzieApril 20, 20260Comments

Horse Channel Horse Health Horse Training

BRIDLES, BITS AND BIOMECHANICS

Rethinking what’s ‘normal’ The sight of a horse moving in a bridle, poll flexed, lips gently closed, has long been seen as the mark of advanced schooling and correct work. However, new research into bridle and bit pressure, nerve pathways, and facial anatomy is challenging that assumption, suggesting that many horses perform despite discomfort, rather…

BylizzieAugust 13, 20250Comments

Horse Channel Horse Health

THE MID-YEAR CONDITION CHECK

Why now is the right time to evaluate your horse’s condition, topline, and muscle health At the midway point of the year, it’s tempting to push forward, focusing on training plans, competition calendars, and surviving winter’s demands. But July offers a unique opportunity: a quiet reset. This is the perfect time to reflect not just…

BylizzieJuly 20, 20250Comments

HQ Pro

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER ABUSE CASE OPENED

The FEI has announced the opening of a horse abuse case against American rider Andre McConnon. In September 2024, videos of the American were posted anonymously on social media. In these videos, McConnon can be seen hitting a horse on the head repeatedly. When these videos were released, the eventer was competing at the Burghley Horse…

BylizzieJanuary 13, 20250Comments

Horse Health

RECOGNISING HIDDEN PAIN IN HORSES – A SHIFT IN PERSPECTIVE

Recent advancements in research and the development of ethograms cataloguing signs of pain are casting light on what has long been an area of silent suffering for horses. Over the past decade, numerous studies have confirmed specific facial expressions and behaviours that typically indicate pain in horses. However, cultural influences steeped in centuries of art…

BylizzieDecember 5, 20240Comments

Horse Channel Horse Health Horse Training

EQUINE WELFARE: ISES 10 TRAINING PRINCIPLES

Equine welfare has always been a concern in our industry, but recent years have seen it move from a peripheral to the foremost consideration in our sport. As awareness of equine welfare has grown, people are not only being called out for incidents of abuse but also for poor management of the horses in their…

BylizzieAugust 22, 20240Comments

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