Equine Behavior: A Guide for Veterinarians and Equine Scientists is written for all those who really want to know what makes horses tick. Behavioral problems in the stable and under saddle are of concern to equine veterinarians worldwide because they lead to welfare issues, abuse and ultimately wastage. Equine veterinarians, trainers and handlers must be aware of each horse's behavior as a first step in detection of problems, whether they are clinical maladies or training issues. As they constantly study their horses' responses to their environments they are all, in effect, students of horse behavior.

Drawing on over 1,000 references, Equine Behavior explores the subject from first principles by considering the behavior of free-ranging horses and considering ways in which management and training influences the responses of domestic horses. All too often veterinarians feel that management of the mental health of equine patients is beyond their expertise. This book addresses many important gaps to enable practitioners to understand how horses can learn to perform unwelcome behaviors and how to change those behaviors where appropriate.

The new edition builds on the success of its pioneering predecessor and presents a thorough revision of all chapters to reflect the latest developments in this dynamic field. The chapter on equitation science has been expanded and there have been major revisions to the sections on stereotypic behavior, cognition studies, nutrition and housing. The book remains a must-have purchase for all veterinarians who deal with horses, for equine scientists, trainers and everybody with an interest in the subject.

• Features a practical, hands-on approach to all aspects of equine behavior
• Discusses all factors that effect equine behavior
• Contrasts normal behavior with abnormal behavior
• Reviews all behavioral problems
• Lists and reviews the latest drug therapies
• Addresses difficult-to-treat clinical problems such as head-shaking, with insights from the leading researcher in this area
• Provides a brief clinical evaluation of 'horse-whispering'
• Illustrates the key behavioral differences between horses and donkeys

Equitation Science is one of those rare books that is going to change the way we train and manage horses forever. It brings together a fundamental understanding of the way horses think and behave and presents a system of modern training that has the welfare of the horse at its core-it must be the foundation work for the next generation of professional and amateur riders and trainers. Riders will ride better, trainers will train better and we will have happier, healthier horses. Wayne Channon, International Grand Prix Rider

Written by two internationally recognised experts, Equitation Science is the first book to draw together the principles of this emerging field into a much-needed coherent source of information.

The goal of equitation science is to enhance our understanding of how horses think and learn, and to use their natural behaviour to train, ride or compete with them in as fair a manner as possible. The welfare consequences of training and competing horses under different protocols are explored. Drawing on traditional and emergent techniques, this book incorporates learning theory into an ethical equine training system suitable for all levels. It also focuses on evidence-based approaches that improve rider safety.

I found this a very interesting and enlightening book. Equitation Science will help anyone involved with horses to understand them more and to be more effective in their training and education. The knowledge this brings to anyone involved with horses should help to make the horses' lives easier and therefore allow the partnership between humans and equines to flourish. Yogi Breisner, British Eventing Performance Manager

Equitation Science is an ambitious and thorough look at an enormous range of areas, apporoaches and factors concerning the training of horses. The authors have an underlying theme to their text of scientifically assessing and then also promoting the use of ethical and humane methods of horse training to increase all sport horses' welfare and happiness within their sporting requirements. Equitation Science also provides an invaluable insight as to how and why what we do with our horses actually works.Paul Tapner, Professional International Advanced Eventing Rider, Badminton CCI 2010 Winner

Welfare research has established a range of scientific indicators of stress, welfare and suffering in animals that can be applied to all aspects of improving their welfare through good housing and management, and the topic continues to grow in importance among both professionals and the public.

Under a team of expert subject editors led by Professor Daniel Mills, the UK's first specialist in veterinary behavioural medicine, over 180 international experts from all areas of the field have contributed a wealth of fully cross-referenced entries ranging from concise definitions to detailed short essays. Biological, practical, clinical and ethical aspects of behaviour and welfare are described in domestic, exotic, companion, laboratory, zoo and wild animals, including human-animal interactions, animal rights and stereotypic behaviours.

The practical focus of this authoritative, comprehensive encyclopedia promotes the understanding and improvement of animals' behaviour without compromising welfare. It will be an essential resource for practising veterinarians, researchers and students in zoology and ethology, and for all those working with and interested in animals and their welfare.

Perché il mio cavallo si agita mentre lo striglio, mi aggredisce quando gli porto il cibo, tira calci contro le pareti della stalla? Se vedete il vostro cavallo semplicemente come un animale domestico che si comporta in modo strano e incomprensibile piuttosto che come una creatura il cui comportamento è governato da un istinto ancestrale, questo manuale potrà aprirvi gli occhi. Attingendo alla propria conoscenza ed esperienza in qualità di istruttore di equitazione, medico veterinario e scienziato comportamentale, Paul McGreevy aiuta tutti i proprietari a rapportarsi al proprio cavallo nel modo più rispettoso dei suoi bisogni di animale sociale avvezzo a pascolare in mandria alla ricerca di cibo.