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Horses ask for human help when in difficulty, study suggests
Horse with owner
If the caretakers did not watch the food being hidden, the horses gave more signals.


Researchers investigate horses’ social cognitive skills with humans

New research suggests that when horses are faced with a problem they cannot solve, they use visual signals to get help from their fellow humans.


In the study, published in the journal Animal Cognition, researchers investigated horses’ social cognitive skills with humans in a problem-solving situation.


In the first experiment, an assistant hid carrots in a bucket which the horses could not reach. The team watched to see how the horses sent signals to their caretakers, who were unaware of the situation. 
The team observed the horses looking at, pushing and touching their caretakers to get their attention.


In the second experiment, the team tested to see if the horses’ behaviour changed based on the caretakers knowing that the food was hidden. This study revealed that if the caretakers did not watch the food being hidden, the horses gave more signals.


‘The signalling behaviour of the horses significantly increased in conditions where the caretakers had not seen the hiding of the food,’ the authors conclude. ‘These results suggest that horses alter their communicative behaviour towards humans in accordance with humans’ knowledge state.’


Eight horses took part in the study, which was conducted by researchers at the Kobe University Graduate School of Intercultural Studies, Japan.


Looking ahead, the team hope to compare communication between horses, as well as looking more closely at the social cognitive ability of horses in their communication with humans.


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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.