When conditions call for it, I put a blanket on the horse I\u2019ve just ridden without a second thought, and certainly without asking for his or her permission. A project dubbed HorseVoice, however, is giving horses in Norway and Sweden a voice in the matter.<\/p>\n
Officially called \u201cGiving the Horse a Voice \u2013 Horse Welfare and Owner Awareness,\u201d the project\u2019s goal is to provide a greater understanding of horses\u2019 cognitive abilities, as well as their emotional needs and preferences, in the hopes of improving their wellbeing. It uses the previously created \u201csymbol method,\u201d where, as the name suggests, horses are taught to use symbols to voice if they want a blanket or not. The project not only gives horses agency, but also opens the door to tricky ethical questions\u2014what if horses one day communicate that they don\u2019t want to be ridden?<\/p>\n
To be, or not to be blanketed?<\/h2>\n
\u201cStudents in equine studies train their own horses to use the symbol method, for example after exercise, allowing the horse to choose whether it wants to wear a blanket or not,\u201d Grete H.M. J\u00f8rgensen, a researcher at the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research and a leader in the project, explained in a statement published by the institute. The method previously showed that horses can communicate what they want through symbols. Students involved in the project are from Sweden\u2019s Str\u00f6msholm National Equestrian Center and Norway\u2019s Skjetlein Upper Secondary School.<\/p>\n The project comes in the wake of scandals in the elite equestrian world over the mistreatment of horses, including the 15-year suspension of Olympic rider Cesar Parra. Within this context, researchers are now also studying if use of the symbol method influences students\u2019 perspective on their horses. Namely, whether the students come to see the animals as unique beings with particular inclinations and requirements, instead of \u201csports performers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMany young people are strongly influenced by role models in the equestrian world. When it is revealed that a former hero has treated horses poorly, it creates confusion and reflection. This project provides space for exactly those kinds of discussions,\u201d J\u00f8rgensen said. The HorseVoice team, which includes an animal trainer, aims to create a symbol method handbook for trainers, horse owners, and educational institutions, and disseminate the approach beyond the project. \u201cIf more people learn to listen to horses\u2019 own signals, it could lead to lasting changes in both attitudes and practices across the entire equestrian sector,\u201d J\u00f8rgensen added.<\/p>\n It remains to be seen what horses trained in the symbol method will tell researchers about their post-exercise blanket-wearing preferences.<\/p>\n As a horseback rider myself, I would argue that while most of us probably don\u2019t ask our horses about their blanket preferences, responsible members of the equestrian community are well aware of individual horses\u2019 special needs. Horses have wildly different personalities, behaviors, and health concerns. At Davis Acres in Massachusetts, for example, our beloved lesson horse Freckles needs sunscreen on his nose during the summer to avoid getting sunburnt, and very obviously enjoys it when you scratch his itchy spots (I\u2019m not joking, he\u2019ll lift his leg up like a dog). The gentle giant Ruby, on the other hand, is particularly sensitive to tick bites. The late Maggie was terrified of cows.<\/p>\n \u201cIn principle, there are no limits to what we can ask horses about\u2014their preference for equipment, training methods, feed, or housing,\u201d J\u00f8rgensen said. \u201cAt the same time, this forces us to reflect on ethical questions. What do we do if the horse\u2019s choice differs from what we want\u2014or if it chooses not to be ridden at all?\u201d<\/p>\n That is indeed a tricky question. A less philosophical scenario, however, involves a horse not wanting to wear a blanket even when we know that a blanket is absolutely necessary\u2014for example, if a horse is very sweaty after an intense lesson, and it\u2019s very cold. What do we do then? In this particular case, I\u2019d argue that, like with children, adults need to do what\u2019s best for the horse even if the horse doesn\u2019t want what\u2019s best for itself.<\/p>\n The HorseVoice researchers argue that we frequently don\u2019t comprehend how horses feel. While this might be true, I\u2019d argue that the most pertinent aspect of that notion is how horses feel health-wise. In other words, whether a horse wants a blanket or not is arguably less important than if it feels unwell.<\/p>\n Long story short, I can\u2019t wait for a symbol method that helps horses communicate their medical symptoms.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"Horse](\"https:\/\/gizmodo.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/01\/horse-iced-coffee.jpg\")
Commentary from a rider<\/h2>\n
![\"Davis](\"https:\/\/gizmodo.com\/app\/uploads\/2026\/01\/davis-acres.jpeg\")