Bad news for horses, also for humans. Once again science is at the service of the equestrian federations and not of horses, putting misleading labels on horses and humans, improving equine exploitation.

[A study commissioned by the German Equestrian Federation investigated what character elements were engendered through horse riding. The study involved 411 riders aged 14 to 65, 91% of whom were women and 9% male. For comparison, the researchers surveyed 402 non-riders who collectively met the same gender distribution, age and income bands of the riding group. 

Riders, it was found, were generally more determined, enthusiastic, structured and balanced than their non-riding counterparts. They also showed greater leadership, were more assertive and competitive, and demonstrated greater resilience.

“We have always been convinced of the positive impact of the horse on the development of children and adolescents, because it corresponds to our experiences and observations,” the federation’s secretary general, Soenke Lauterbach, said.

The federation commissioned the study because it wanted to find out if that anecdotal evidence was borne out in a study, he said. Equestrian associations and clubs now had solid arguments on the personal character-building benefits of riding, he said.] – Source horsetalk.co.nz 

Animal science without animal ethics becomes dark science, looking for justification for the exploitation of animality. Horses need new researchers, free from the chains of equestrian industry, otherwise we can also make without science, this slavish science.