The HorseVoice project, a collaboration between Norwegian and Swedish research institutions, aims to enhance horse welfare by enabling horses to communicate their preferences using a symbol method. Initially developed to let horses indicate whether they wanted to wear blankets, this method has expanded to allow horses to express choices about equipment, training, feed, and housing. The project not only focuses on the horses’ cognitive and emotional needs but also raises ethical questions about respecting their preferences, even when they conflict with human desires.

An important dimension of HorseVoice is its social science approach, studying how teaching students to communicate with horses influences their perception of horses as sentient individuals rather than mere sports performers. By involving equine students and trainers, the project hopes to foster lasting changes in attitudes and practices across the equestrian sector. A practical handbook on the symbol method is being developed to promote widespread adoption, with further research planned to systematically gather horses’ preferences and refine the communication techniques.