[{"Course code":"P000127","Version":1,"English name":"Equitation Science","Higher education credits":4.0,"Syllabus":"Finalized by: Fun-LTV, 2024-12-13","Valid from":"2024H","Syllabus approved":"2024-12-13","Level within study regulation":"Third cycle","Grading scale":"Pass \/ Failed","Language":"Swedish","Entry requirements":"Admitted to a postgraduate program (PhD, MSc) or passed academic graduate level courses in, i.e. animal science, equine science, veterinary science, agricultural science, biology, ethology. Participants of residency programmes (or other specialization programmes with relevance to equitation science) will also be admitted.","Objectives":"Course objectives:\n\n• describe the horse’s biological needs and critically discuss consequences for housing, management and training\n\n• integrate an ethological approach to training and welfare assessment and discuss indicators of good welfare\n\n• define and explain learning theory and apply it to training, accounting for the horses’ cognitive and sensory abilities\n\n• define stress and abnormal behaviour, reflect upon the development of unwanted behaviour and provide evidence-based solutions to real life problems\n\n• critically evaluate and explain the effects of management and human\/rider on horse welfare\n\n• objectively discuss, communicate, and implement an evidence-based and ethical approach to human-horse interactions\n\n• discuss and critically evaluate scientific methods and protocols in equitation science","Content":"The course will be held during 5 days and will provide participants with scientific and practical tools with which they can validate human-horse interactions to identify management and training methods that are ethical and effective and highlight those that represent problems for horse welfare and human safety. To achieve this, lectures and seminars will cover topics such as equine ethology, perception and communication, applied ethology, equine cognition and learning, applied learning theory, research methods in equitation science and communication of scientific findings to promote evidence based practice.\n\nThe course consists of lectures (20 hours), group discussions (5 hours) and seminars (15 hours), a home assignment (70 hours) and a practical-workshop (5 hours) where theoretical knowledge is put into action to bridge science with practice. Real case scenarios will be implemented throughout.\n\nDay 1: Introduction to equitation science \\| Scientific methods and protocols in equitation science \\| Tour around Equestrian Centre Wången and presentation of ongoing research at the centre. Day 2: Behavioural needs and applied ethology \\| Cognition and learning \\| Stress and emotions \\| Practical demonstration of measuring stress responses and habituation. Day 3: Housing, management and welfare assessment \\| Designing modern, motivation based housing that accommodates horses’ behavioural needs \\| Sensory abilities and practical exercise on measuring sensory abilities. Day 4: Equitation science in practice \\| Assessing human-horse interactions \\| Ethical equitation. Day 5: Communication of research \\| Preparation for home assignment\n\nAssignment: A small-scale literature review on a specific topic relevant to equitation science, i.e., a topic that is most closely related to the students’ own research or that connects their own research to equitation science. Key results shall be presented written and orally at the course. A popular article shall be written about the chosen topic and suggestions provided of how to implement results in practice. This will be further developed during active group discussions during the course week and a written report shall be handed in after the course. Key publications relevant to equitation science will be provided prior to course start.","Examination formats":"Approved written exercises during the course and written home assignments.\n\nApproved oral presentation and participation at obligatory modules of the course. \r\n- If a student has failed an examination, the examiner has the right to issue supplementary assignments. This applies if it is possible and there are grounds to do so.\r\n\r\n- The examiner can provide an adapted assessment to students entitled to study support for students with disabilities following a decision by the university. Examiners may also issue an adapted examination or provide an alternative way for the students to take the exam.\r\n\r\n- If this syllabus is withdrawn, SLU may introduce transitional provisions for examining students admitted based on this syllabus and who have not yet passed the course.\r\n\r\n- For the assessment of an independent project (degree project), the examiner may also allow a student to add supplemental information after the deadline for submission. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.\r\n","Organisation":[{"code":"643","Organisation":"Department of Biosystems and Technology"}],"Other information":"\r\n- The right to participate in teaching and\/or supervision only applies for the course instance the student was admitted to and registered on.\r\n\r\n- If there are special reasons, students are entitled to participate in components with compulsory attendance when the course is given again. Read more in the Education Planning and Administration Handbook.\r\n"}]