Horse welfare – News, Research and Analysis – The Conversation

June 19, 2025

Horse whipping is painful and cruel. The latest incident shows why it should be banned

Anne Quain, University of Sydney and Cathrynne Henshall, Charles Sturt University

Just like any other animal, horses feel pain, which is why more needs to be done to minimise the use of whips.

October 29, 2020

Research shows whipping horses doesn’t make them run faster, straighter or safer — let’s cut it out

Kirrilly Thompson, University of South Australia; Bethany Wilson, University of Sydney; Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney, and Phil McManus, University of Sydney

As the Melbourne Cup approaches, new research shows whipping horses really doesn’t offer the benefits its proponents claim.

Vet: are you happy? Horse: neigh. evilgurl/Flickr

October 17, 2019

Is your horse normal? Now there’s an app for that

Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney; Bethany Wilson, University of Sydney; Kate Fenner, University of Sydney, and Michelle Lenore Hyde, University of Sydney

An Australian horse app has been launched that allows vets and owners across the globe to log their horses’ physical, mental and social development.

Not all Thoroughbreds mate in the natural way. Shutterstock/Svetlana Ryazantseva

July 31, 2019

Breeding Thoroughbreds is far from natural in the race for a winner

Cathrynne Henshall, Charles Sturt University and Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney

Today’s the official birthday of all race horses in Australia which means the breeding season is just a month away. It’s about to get very busy for stallions and mares on the stud farms.

It’s true they do have an amazing ability to be able to sleep standing up. But they do also sleep lying down. If you’re a horse, you need to be able to do both. Flickr/Loco Steve

May 7, 2019

Curious Kids: why don’t horses sit or lie down even while sleeping?

Susan Hazel, University of Adelaide

Horses can stand on three legs and rest the other leg. They can change the leg they rest so that all of their legs get a chance to have a break.

Racing to the finish at the Melbourne Cup in 2017. AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

November 4, 2018

Dressing up for Melbourne Cup Day, from a racehorse point of view

Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney and Cathrynne Henshall, Charles Sturt University

It’s not only fans that dress up on Melbourne Cup Day. There is plenty of gear racehorses can wear, from blinkers to nose bands, ear plugs and even a tail chain. But do they do any good?

Tongue-ties are used to tie horses’ tongues to their lower jaw. Horses & People Magazine

July 9, 2018

Over 20% of Australian horses race with their tongues tied to their lower jaw

Samantha Franklin, University of Adelaide and Paul McGreevy, University of Sydney

Tongue-ties are used in Australian horse racing but are banned in most other horse sports.

Horses graze on a ranch as the sun rises near Smithers, B.C., in September 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

March 11, 2018

Getting the facts about work in horse stables

Kendra Coulter, Brock University

Horses have played a major role in our culture and have worked hard for human beings for eons. But there’s high turnover and pressing labour issues in horse stables. It’s time to figure out why.

Articles on Horse welfare

Displaying all articles