The article explores three key research areas in equine behavior and training. First, it highlights a novel approach to resolving lack of impulsion in horses through memory reconsolidation (MR), a neuroscience-based method that helps horses “unlearn” resistance by creating new, contradictory experiences to their learned stress responses. This technique, validated in multiple cases, shows promising results in improving horses’ responsiveness and well-being after just a few sessions, offering a practical alternative when conventional training and medical interventions fail.

Secondly, the article discusses rider behavior during non-completion (NC) events in show jumping, revealing that younger, less experienced riders tend to exhibit more punitive actions toward horses, which can harm equine welfare and performance. Lastly, it presents findings on emotional contagion between humans and horses, demonstrating that horses primarily respond to human body language rather than internal emotional states. Restricting expressive body cues in anxious humans reduces stress responses in horses, suggesting that neutral, controlled body language can help buffer horses from human emotional stress during interactions.