Exploring the relationship between horse-owner attributes and their approach to horse training
Authors: Ella Bartlett, Emily J. Blackwell, Lorna J. Cameron, Jo Hockenhull
Journal: Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science
Summary
# Editorial Summary Over 1,500 horse-owners participated in an online survey designed to identify what demographic characteristics and personal beliefs shape their selection of training methods, ranging from positive reinforcement to aversive-based approaches. Using multinomial regression analysis, researchers found that age, gender identity, professional involvement, activity type and formal training in animal behaviour all significantly predicted which training approaches owners favoured, with particularly strong associations between owners' beliefs about horse sentience and cognition and their willingness to employ aversive techniques. Notably, owners who expressed stronger conviction that training decisions should be informed by scientific evidence reported lower likelihood of using aversive methods. These findings matter considerably for equine professionals designing educational interventions: rather than assuming all owners respond to welfare messaging identically, farriers, vets and coaches can tailor advice based on owners' likely demographic profile and underlying beliefs about horse cognition, potentially improving uptake of evidence-based, welfare-friendly training methods. The work underscores that shifting training practices requires understanding not just what owners currently do, but *why* they make those choices.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Target education about evidence-based training to different demographic groups (age, gender, role) as they show distinct training preferences and receptiveness
- •Focus on shifting owner beliefs about horse sentience and cognition—these attitudes strongly predict use of aversive methods, suggesting they are key intervention points
- •Develop training advice that explicitly incorporates science-based evidence, as owners who value science-informed approaches are more likely to avoid aversive techniques
Key Findings
- •Age, gender identity, goals, activities, industry role, and animal behavior training were significantly associated with horse-owners' choice of training approach
- •Beliefs about equine sentience, cognitive ability, and the role of science in training correlated with likelihood of applying aversive training methods
- •Demographic and attitudinal factors influence horse-owner selection of training approaches with implications for equine welfare