Kind Words for Horse Head

This week, we hear from Dr. David Jefferson, who read Horse Head: Brain Science & Other Insights. Jefferson is the author of the recently published, Goodbye, Old Friend: The Euthanasia of Your Horse. We reviewed it here. Jefferson writes: Saddle up! This book is a […]

It’s Not All Brain Science

The world will never starve for want of wonders; but only for want of wonder. Gilbert Keith Chesterton, 1874-1936 Maddy Butcher writes: Like you, I’m curious. New information around horses fascinates me. Sure, I have the natural skepticism of a journalist. But when insights clarify […]

Horse Brain Insight from Dog Brain Doc

This week, we visited with Dr. Erin Hecht, assistant professor in Harvard University’s Department of Human Evoluntionary Biology. Hecht’s research on dog brains and how breed can manifest in canine neuroanatomy got our attention here. We talked with her via email of the possible insights […]

Heart Rate Variability, Part Two

Editor’s Note: As new devices like heart monitors become available for horse owners and riders, we think it’s important to understand their potentials and limitations. Technology often outpaces our knowledge base, making the setting ripe for misinterpretation and misinformation. Take a moment to educate yourself […]

Heart Rate Variability, Part I

Dog Brain Detour

Mammalian brains – horse brains, dog brains, human brains – have many similarities. Since this is so, and since most horse owners love dogs, too, we thought you’d be interested in what folks at Harvard University have found: Researchers there are discovering that dog brains […]

Horse Head Review

We were pleased to see Karen Morgan’s review in this month’s edition of her local Santa Cruz County Horsemen’s Association. Order a copy here for yourself or a friend Morgan writes: We’re all guilty, at one time or another. We’ve wished our horse could share […]

Introducing Polyvagal Theory

Editor’s Note: At HorseHead, we’re intrigued by Polyvagal Theory, a relatively new explanation of the autonomic nervous system, present in all mammals. This is an introduction to Polyvagal Theory and its application with horses and horsemanship. Please note: what follows is theory and not yet […]

Brain Doc Hits the Road

Dr. Steve Peters is becoming increasingly busy as he ramps up his horse brain science presentation across the country and the world. This October, you can see him at the Best Horse Practices Summit in Lexington, Kentucky. Register here. Here are additional dates and locations: […]

Empathy Gaps Hinder our Horse Work

This is an article about calm versus chaos, basic emotional states for both horses and humans. It was inspired by a Hidden Brain discussion about the Hot-Cold Empathy Gap. and has much to do with the autonomic nervous system discussed here. In the podcast, Shankur […]