No More Evasion: Redefining Conflict Behaviour in Human-Horse Interactions.

The research article discusses the inadequacies of traditional equestrian terminology in describing horse behavior and suggests a redefinition of the term “conflict behavior” to more accurately reflect the motivations and responses of horses in interactions with humans.

Traditional Equestrian Language and its Limitations

• The paper criticizes commonly used terms in horse training such as “evasion”, “resistance”, and “disobedience”, arguing that they reflect an anthropocentric bias that places blame unfairly on the horse for not following human’s instructions.
• It highlights that these terms tend to ignore various motivations that may cause horses to exhibit unwelcome responses, including pain or discomfort, fear, or confusion. By failing to recognize these underlying causes, the wrong behavior might inadvertently be reinforced.
• Such language also tends to shield people from responsibility by attributing the issue solely to the animal’s disobedience, thus overlooking how human actions or the environment might contribute to these unwanted behaviors.

Redefinition of ‘Conflict Behaviour’

• The article proposes a new definition of ‘conflict behaviour’ that more accurately represents the experiences of horses. It suggests this term should refer to situations where the horse’s motivations clash with those of the human, potentially leading to a range of behaviors from subtle to blatant, and from a single instance to repetitive displays.
• This definition sees such behaviour as a signal of struggle rather than defiance, inviting humans to consider what might be causing the horse’s discomfort or confusion and adjust their approach accordingly.

The Importance of Multidisciplinary Approach

• The authors recommend adopting a multidisciplinary approach in equestrian research to ensure a more rounded understanding of horse behaviors. This approach can incorporate different fields of study to delve into the biological, environmental, and human-induced factors impacting equine behaviour.
• Such an approach would also encourage further investigation into the natural motivations of horses (‘equine telos’) and how these might relate to problematic horse behaviours in human-horse interactions.