Those who care for horses are encouraged to take part in a
worldwide study of equine behaviour.
“The increase in popularity of having a horse as a
recreational companion has stimulated a diversity of opinions as to what
constitutes normal and abnormal equine behaviour, and what defines effective
and humane training” says Paul McGreevy, Professor of Animal Welfare and Behaviour
at the University of Sydney, in a letter to the Veterinary Record.
To explore the influence of training and management on horse
behaviour, Professor McGreevy and his research team have launched the Equine
Behaviour Assessment and Research Questionnaire (E-BARQ), a global database of
horse behaviour.
He explains that the non-profit project allows the equine
community throughout the world to donate their observational data and gain
unique benefits in return.
The research aims to reveal information on how training and
management affects behaviour and how, in turn, behaviour affects horse welfare.
Horse owners will be able to compare their horse’s behaviour
with that of other horses around the world. E-BARQs “share and compare” graphs
will reveal attributes such as trainability, rideability, handling, compliance,
boldness, and human social confidence.
E-BARQ is open to all horse owners/handlers, regardless of
their horses’ breed, height, or age, and provides users with a free dashboard
to store their horses’ results and track their progress.
Participants will gain an insight into where their horses
are performing well and where they may need help. They will also be able to
monitor their horse’s progress over time by returning to their E-BARQ dashboard
every six months and re-taking the questionnaire, updating their scores.
You can access E-BARQ here:
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