International Society for Equitation Science

In this episode, we explore Cristina Wilkins’ ISES 2025 keynote, Seeing Pressure: Evidence and Responsibility in Modern Equitation. Drawing on research into elite dressage, the Five Domains Model and the One Welfare framework, Cristina examines the physical impacts of equestrian equipment, including bridles and nosebands, and the signs of discomfort and pressure that can go unnoticed.
The discussion challenges us to reconsider what has become normal in equestrian sport, how we recognise equine discomfort, and the responsibility of riders, trainers and judges to put horse welfare first.
Members can access last year’s conference talks for free and enjoy discounted access to this year’s! Non-members can purchase both via our website at the standard rate for this year and a discounted rate for last year. Become a member today to enjoy these benefits!
Become a member: https://www.equitationscience.com/membership
Purchase the talks: https://www.equitationscience.com/csu-2025

In this episode, Professor Jane Williams, Dr Richard Corrigan and Dr Marc Pierard explore the development of the Human–Equine Attachment Scale (HEAS), examining six dimensions of the human–horse bond, from companionship and personal wellbeing to status and sacrifice.
Discover how our relationships with horses can influence horse care, veterinary decisions and equine welfare, whether we own, ride, compete, train or work with horses.
You can read this paper here: https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/evj.70141

In this episode, Erica Cheung explores her PhD research discovering how equestrians perceive and navigate horse welfare, drawing on interviews that reveal the complex role of culture, tradition, authority and cognitive dissonance in shaping everyday decisions. From normalised practices to moments that challenge long-held beliefs, this conversation examines both the barriers to change and where opportunities for progress may lie.
We also discuss Erica’s ongoing PhD research, including quantitative work and analysis of public responses to high-profile equestrian incidents.
You can view this paper here: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12304784/

This episode explores a research paper surveying Canadian riding lesson facilities to understand how lesson horses are managed and the challenges of maintaining welfare.
Caleigh Copelin and Dr Katrina Merkies discuss findings showing that while horse welfare was generally positive outside of riding, riding sessions themselves were associated with increased stress due to factors such as inconsistent rider techniques and demanding workloads. The conversation highlights gaps in regulation and oversight, industry perceptions of welfare, and practical ways to support lesson horse wellbeing through education, improved management, and wider industry standards.
You can view this paper here: https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/10.1139/cjas-2025-0008

In this episode, we explore new research on using facial expressions and artificial intelligence to identify emotional states in horses, moving beyond pain detection to include states like anticipation, frustration, and disappointment with Dr Claire Ricci-Bonot.

With models reaching around 76% accuracy, the findings highlight both the potential and the limitations of using technology to assess equine emotion and welfare.

Dr Claire Ricci-Bonot is an academic researcher specialising in animal behaviour, cognition, and welfare, with a primary focus on horses at the University of Lincoln. Her work explores equine emotions, social relationships, and stress, including topics such as social buffering, separation issues, and the use of AI to identify emotional states in horses.

You can read this paper here: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0302893