Bibliothèque mondiale du cheval

« Conference theme: Equine Stress, Learning and Training.
The Interpretation of equine stress responses theme introduced the fundamentals of stress. The main message being that in order to assess stress in horses, studies must be carefully planned and conducted under standardised and controlled conditions using validated methods and take indicators such as behavioural observations into account. Equestrians are reminded that besides the physical impact of stressors, perception (e.g. inherent fearfulness, life history and early experience) are also key contributory factors to the stress experienced by horses (and humans). Not only does stress affect the welfare of horses, it also has direct implications for training and the learning capacity in horses, which was addressed within the presentations on learning and cognition. The links between stress and brain function, including effects of the neurotransmitter dopamine, were emphasised. Dopamine is heavily involved in the reward system and in memory formation and learning in horses. There is no doubt that research in neuroscience and brain function will bring new insights to the importance of how horses learn optimally in practice. Presentations addressing sustainable training and riding highlighted the importance of adequately preparing the horse for exercise and competition, and the often forgotten physical and physiological condition of the riders. The need for more objectivity in dressage judging was emphasised and a vision for training in horse sport based on learning theory was presented. A range of scientific topics were presented in a number of very interesting free papers; examples being rugging, road safety.[…] » Présentattion de l’éditeur (2014)