How Horse Owners can Learn about Animal Care from Zoo Keepers

Believe it or not, behavioural techniques used with zebras and rhinos can help us take care of our animals in a more stress-free way…

A World Horse Welfare webinar has revealed how horse owners could follow in the footsteps of zookeepers and encourage their animals to be a part of their own care.

Zookeeper and equine behaviourist Barbara Dreyer described how ‘cooperative care’ trains animals such as zebras and rhino to take part in their own care with tasks such as hoof maintenance, grooming and medical examinations. She explained that positive reinforcement was the key rather than using restraint or force, instead teaching animals the correct behaviours for required procedures.

She added that this method offers the animal choice and allows them to trust you as they view the task as a positive experience, making it easier and calmer for both the handler and animal. Co-operative care has been used in zoos for more than 40 years and encompasses marine mammals, bears, hippos and big cats. Barbara’s own successes include training eastern black rhino to accept blood-testing and Grévy’s zebra to take worming treatments.

She said the techniques can be used successfully in the horse world as long as the animal understands, for instance, what behaviour is earning it the treat. So horse owners need to make it clear to their animal how they are earning that much anticipated treat.

If you’d like to come and meet our animals and find out more about what we do at Remus Horse Sanctuary, our first Open Day of the 2025 season will take place on Sunday 4 May from 1-4pm. Find out more and book your tickets online.

You might also be interested in our Cake Decorating Workshop on 12 April.