What makes riding rewarding? And what can that teach us about horse welfare?
[…] their nominations also highlight something equally important: coaching younger riders, serving on committees, organising events, volunteering behind the scenes and helping create opportunities for others. Paige How Deloraine District Pony Club, Tasmania After 21 years as a member of Deloraine District Pony Club, Paige How continues to embrace almost every opportunity Pony Club […]
How tight is too tight? What noseband research tells us
[…] their nominations also highlight something equally important: coaching younger riders, serving on committees, organising events, volunteering behind the scenes and helping create opportunities for others. Paige How Deloraine District Pony Club, Tasmania After 21 years as a member of Deloraine District Pony Club, Paige How continues to embrace almost every opportunity Pony Club […]
Are our expectations failing mares?
Research suggests gender stereotypes may influence how we interpret horse behaviour, with potential consequences for equine training and welfare. Are mares really less reliable, less predictable or more difficult than geldings, or do human gender stereotypes influence how we perceive and respond to their behaviour? A 2019 study co-authored by Pony Club Australia Welfare Lead […]
When ulcers are the clue, not the whole answer
What Dr Ben Sykes says gastric health can tell us about a horse’s welfare When a horse is diagnosed with gastric ulcers, it is natural to focus on the immediate question: how do we treat them? But Dr Ben Sykes believes that question should be followed quickly by another: What might this horse’s stomach be […]
Healthy Hooves & Happy Riders
A comfortable horse gives a young rider the best chance to learn, participate and enjoy their Pony Club experience. Hoof comfort plays an important role in how a horse or pony moves, responds and copes with different activities. When a pony is uncomfortable on hard ground, gravel, uneven surfaces or changing terrain, the rider may […]
Why Stressed Horses Shouldn’t Be Left Tied Up
Picture this: you’re at a rally, muster, competition or clinic. Horses are tied to floats and rails while people catch up, walk courses, gear up, spectate, or help elsewhere around the grounds. It’s a very normal part of horse sports. Some horses are perfectly happy to stand quietly tied up all day. That’s often a […]
Three Checks for Correct Bridle Fit
By Fiona Dearing, Bit Right Equine Bridle fitting, much like bit fitting, is a relatively new concept to many riders. When I grew up in the 1980’s (notice how I avoided the use of the term ‘last century there?!) saddle fitting certainly wasn’t something we considered like we do now, and likewise, bridle fitting hasn’t […]
Time to stop trimming your horses’ nose and ear hairs!
By PCA Integrity Manager Suanne Waugh Pony Club Promotes horse welfare first Over time it has become the culture, a tradition or the “norm” to trim your horses’ hairs for a neat, polished look, particularly in some disciplines. However, when it comes to nose and ear hair, Pony Club takes a clear position: these hairs […]
Understanding How Your Horse’s Memory Works
The horse’s memory is excellent, in some ways better than our own. Horses remember places, objects, animals and people very well. Unlike humans, they cannot reflect on memories or deliberately revisit them. Because of this, their memories tend to remain intact over time. Humans can reflect, reinterpret and revisit past experiences, which can lead to […]
Are Our Horses Fit Enough for What We Ask of Them?
When we think about horse welfare, we often focus on feeding, gear, or veterinary care. But one of the most important welfare considerations is something we don’t always recognise straight away: Is the horse actually fit enough for the job we’re asking it to do? It may come as a surprise that many performance horses […]