Ethology is the study of horses in their natural environment. There is a big difference between good horse care and good horse welfare. Good horse care can be a nice stable, a massage therapist and new rugs. But good horse welfare is about what the horse actually wants. 

One of the things that a horse needs is the company of other horses. Horses are social animals that need to bond with other horses. They need touch in the same way we do. 

Horses need to be able to move about. Naturally, the horse moves around 17 kilometers per day. Keeping them in small stables and paddocks can really impact their welfare in a negative way. 

Horses also need to be able to eat for around 13 hours per day, so they need access to constant eating for a large part of the day. 

In the wild, you never see a horse with any stereotypical behavior, like weaving or wind sucking. This is because their environment is predictable. However, when we start training them, they often get a lot of unpredictability from us as humans. This leads to tension, stress and negative welfare implications. 

Horses often rub each other at the base of the withers. This is something we can use as a reward - it reduces stress and is a great way to reward them.