The need to move and forage, and the capacity to feel joy, are among key facts it is thought horses would like us to know, remember and respond to.

Janne Winther Christensen, an associate professor in ethology, the study of animal behaviour , at Aarhus University, Denmark, addressed the World Horse Welfare conference yesterday (21 November), the theme of which was “Through the horse’s eyes”.

The aim of the day was to start to see the world as horses do, to help give them a good life from their perspective, not ours.

Dr Christiensen, whose research has covered horse behaviour, behavioural needs and stress biology in relation to housing, management, handling and training, shared “five facts that I believe our horses would like us to know and remember”.

“Horses are sentient beings, a

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