Latest news with #horses
BBC News
3 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Study shows how horses use facial expressions to communicate
New research has shown how horses use their faces to communicate emotions - not only to each other but also with other species, like not the first time facial expressions in horses have been studied but researchers from the University of Portsmouth looked at horses in situations that were natural, rather than created by humans like in previous made a list of 805 different facial displays across 22 behaviours. Dr Leanne Proops from the university said the research "opens up new possibilities for understanding equine emotions and improving welfare." The study shows horses use different facials cues in different is shown by flattening the ears which face backwards, the inner brow rises, nostrils will flare and they will lower their a horse is alert or curious their ears will face forwards and slightly inwards and they will blink more they're being friendly, horses are usually neutral which means there's no obvious facial expression to show this emotion.A playful horse will show lots of facial movements including a raised chin, parted lips, open mouths and rotated flattened Proops said the research is a "game-changer for anyone working with horses". She said: "It gives us a new lens through which to view and interpret their behaviour, ultimately leading to better care and stronger human-animal relationships."
The Guardian
6 days ago
- Health
- The Guardian
More than a long face: horses use ‘rich repertoire' of expressions to interact
They might get quizzed by bartenders about their long faces, but horses pull a variety of expressions when interacting with each other, researchers have found. While facial movements can help members of the same species communicate emotions or other signals to each other, they can also be important for inter-species understanding – such as helping humans glean insights into the experiences of domesticated animals. In horses, for example, ear movements have long been viewed as important indicators of their internal state. However the new work suggests there are many more signals to look out for. 'Horses produce a rich and complex repertoire of facial expressions, and we should not overlook the nuances in these if we want to truly understand the subjective experiences of horses,' said Dr Kate Lewis, first author of the research from the University of Portsmouth, adding the new work could also be important for improving the care and welfare of horses. Writing in the journal Peer J, Lewis and colleagues report how they drew on an existing directory of horse facial movements known as Equine Facial Action Coding System (EquiFACS) to unpick the combinations of facial expressions and behaviours made by 36 domestic horses during different types of naturally occurring interactions. These were classified by the team as friendly, playful, aggressive or attentional. The team analysed 72 hours of filmed observations to explore which facial movements tended to occur in each context. 'Something of this size has not been attempted before in horses, and it's really exciting to see the subtleties in how animals communicate with each other,' Lewis said. While the researchers found almost all facial movements occurred in all of the different contexts, some were more specific to certain types of interaction. In particular, they found during friendly, peaceful interactions with other horses, the animals tended to put their noses forward. By contrast, when paying attention to something, the horses' ears were typically forward and pulled together. During aggressive encounters the ears tended to be flattened and backward-facing, while the inner brows were raised, the nostrils dilated and the head lowered. However during play the lower lip was often depressed, the chin raised, lips parted, mouth stretched open wide, and the ears rotated and flattened backwards. In addition, the team noted that during play horses often had an increase in visible eye white, while the nose was pushed forward, and the head tended to be up or turned to the right, or both. 'These results really highlight the importance of not relying on just one aspect of the face, such as the ears, to understand what the horse is trying to communicate,' said Lewis. 'Instead we need to consider how the individual facial movements work together to create the overall facial expression.' Primates and some carnivores, such as bears, also open their mouths during play, Lewis added – with the movement used to indicate the interaction is not aggressive, thereby preventing unwanted fighting. 'This face has been anecdotally described in horses previously, but here we were able to show that it definitely exists and, crucially, that it involves the same muscles as it does in primates,' Lewis said, adding the similarity suggested that the 'play face' evolved in mammals earlier than previously thought, before horses and primates split on the evolutionary tree. 'There are both similarities and differences between the facial expressions made by non-human primates and horses, so if we are to gain a comprehensive understanding of facial expressions and their evolutionary origins, we need to look beyond our closely related primate cousins,' she said.
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Seeing double! Sam Armytage's fans go wild as she shares pictures of her lookalike sister: 'You guys are twins'
Samantha Armytage has sent fans wild after sharing pictures of her lookalike sister Georgina during a trip to the UK. The Golden Bachelor star, 48, took to Instagram this week to post a series of photos showing the pair horse-riding in Wimbledon Common, located in south-west London. The sisterly duo looked chuffed to be in each other's company for the quant outing, with the pair beaming broadly as they posed on horseback. Samantha and Georgina could be mistaken for twins in the images, with the pair looking almost identical in their near-matching riding helmets. It was a fact not lost on Samantha's 257,000 followers, with many pointing out the striking similarity. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'Twins? You look like twins!' one fan offered while another chimed in with a similar, 'You and your sister look like twins.' 'I told you that both of you look alike,' a third offered summing up the sentiment of many. Others were quick to point out just how happy Samantha looked to be in the company of her sister. 'What Fun To B Together Xx U Look Sooo Happy,' one fan swooned. Another offered: 'You look great up there! So good to see you so happy. You deserve it.' Captioning the images, Samantha revealed that she and Georgina had been indulging in their passion for horses since childhood. The Armytage sisters have come a long way since Adaminaby Pony Club in the 80's/early 90's. 17,000kms to be precise,' she wrote. 'Probably the first time Daryl Braithwaite has belted out across Wimbledon Common ~ but what fun to womble our way around this morning with Honey, Rosie, Fudge- the -Shetland & the gang. She continued: 'Pls note Georgie's "hands & heels"; a throw back to our PC days…& my Honey; at 17 hands ~ not bad for an old girl with a new hip - the both of us (no wonder I need the steps.' Samantha's UK jaunt comes after she announced her shock split with husband Richard Lavender late last year. Sam and Richard's separation was planned to be leaked to a Sydney newspaper in December, but sources confirmed the news to Daily Mail Australia in advance. 'Yes Richard and I have separated. All breakups are hard, but it's somewhat lessened by the fact it's amicable and we wish the best for each other,' Samantha told media following the revelations. 'I appreciate you respecting our privacy. I won't be making any further comment.' It is understood Samantha's television presenter friends had been comforting the star behind the scenes for some time. Samantha is no longer followed on Instagram by Richard's two daughters, Sascha and Grace, although the former couple still follow each other. Samantha started dating Richard in April 2019, and they announced their engagement in June 2020, before tying the knot at his property in rural NSW six months later. Sam certainly hasn't been resting on her laurels though, with the popular presenter currently filming the anticipated Nine reality series The Golden Bachelor. Daily Mail Australia exclusively revealed Barry 'Bear' Myrden, a 50-something infrastructure engineer and passionate sailor from Sydney, has been handpicked as the leading man for the upcoming Australian adaptation. In exclusive pictures, Barry was seen filming the show in Sydney in March, and his cast of leading ladies have since been spotted arriving at the Sydney mansion where filming will take place. Unlike The Bachelor and The Bachelorette which feature young men and women, the Golden Bachelor is targeted at a more mature audience eager to watch how those who have already experienced great love and loss are chasing companionship in their next chapter. 'Bear is not your usual reality TV type,' an insider told Daily Mail Australia. 'He's charming, intelligent and has really lived a full life. He's been through love, loss and now he's ready to open his heart again. Women are going to adore him.'
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
2 women face animal cruelty charges after dozens of horses found dead in San Joaquin County
Two women were arrested and face numerous charges in an animal cruelty investigation launched after dozens of horses were found dead on several San Joaquin County properties. Jan Johnson and Justine Fitzhenry, both of Clements, were arrested Wednesday by the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office. Johnson is charged with 23 felony counts and 18 misdemeanor counts. Of the felony counts, 20 are for animal cruelty and three are for possession of an illegal firearm and being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. All 18 misdemeanor counts are tied to animal neglect and cockfighting, according to the criminal complaint filed Wednesday in San Joaquin County Superior Court. Fitzhenry is charged with three felony counts of animal cruelty and one misdemeanor count of animal neglect, according to the complaint. The investigation began in August 2024 and spanned at least three properties in the Clements area, about a half hour northeast of Stockton. That month, sheriff's deputies conducted a welfare check at Johnson's property after residents raised concerns about animal neglect. During the welfare check, Johnson allegedly threatened to shoot the deputies, according to the complaint. The case stalled until January, when deputies shut down a cockfighting ring at a property Johnson owns in Lodi. Deputies then executed a search warrant at one of Johnson's three properties on Jan. 22 and found 27 dead horses. There were also several malnourished horses on the premises with limited access to food or water. The next day, deputies searched two additional properties and found dead 53 horses, one cow and one dog. The sheriff's office said they also discovered at least 90 horses and three alpacas that were all malnourished. A bull, a donkey and 13 horses had to be euthanized because of their condition. Johnson, 62, was arrested on Jan. 22 and booked into the San Joaquin County Jail on suspicion of criminal threats, cruelty to an animal, possession of a short-barrel shotgun, and threatening a public official. She was released on bail the same day. The sheriff's office continued to investigate, leading to Johnson's second arrest this week and the arrest of Fitzhenry, whom Johnson identified as her assistant in a 2012 Record article. San Joaquin County Sheriff Patrick Withrow said Thursday that authorities wanted to ensure every animal abused in the case was represented. "I know this has taken a long time, but we wanted to get it right, and every single one of these animals that were tortured deserve our respect and our passion in investigating this," Withrow said. "We don't allow this to happen in San Joaquin County. We don't want it to happen anywhere in our state or our country, and we're going to hold people accountable that do that." At a news conference Thursday, San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas declined to provide specifics about the alleged abuse the animals endured at the hands of Johnson and Fitzhenry. When asked by a reporter why it took so long to bring charges, Freitas said it was a multi-agency investigation. "These are very difficult cases. We have to look into the facts and the conditions of the animals, and document every single one," Freitas said. "Working full time with the sheriff's department, animal services and the district attorney's office, we were able to reach these conclusions and are very proud that we're filing these charges." Johnson and Fitzhenry were both released from the San Joaquin County Jail on bail Thursday. Johnson posted $500,000 bail, and Fitzhenry posted $100,000 bail, according to sheriff's spokesperson Heather Brent. Freitas told reporters he was disappointed the women were able to post bail. "Bail is set by the judges who are elected by the people and appointed by the governor in this state," Freitas said. "We hope to be able to address bail at the arraignment." Johnson and Fitzhenry are scheduled to appear June 6 in San Joaquin County Superior Court for arraignment. If convicted, Johnson faces a 25-year sentence and Fitzhenry faces a four-year sentence, according to Freitas. At the news conference, Freitas also announced the launch of the San Joaquin County Animal Cruelty Coalition. Freitas said his office will partner with the Animal Protection League, San Joaquin County Animal Control, the San Joaquin County Farm Bureau and others 'to educate and ensure there is accountability for animal cruelty.' "Our animals, often are loyal companions, deserve a voice," Freitas said. "We will be that voice and advocate fiercely for their protection." Record reporter Hannah Workman covers news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at hworkman@ or on Twitter @byhannahworkman. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at This article originally appeared on The Record: Women charged after dozens of horses found dead in San Joaquin County
The Sun
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Hundreds of travellers flock to 800-year-old horse fair as street races close down town and rubbish piles up
FLOCKS of travellers have descended on a quiet town for an 800-year-old horse fair - causing roads, shops and pubs to shut. Pictures show the crowds swarming through the usually sleepy streets of Wickham, which only has a population of 2,000. 10 10 10 10 Horses of all breeds and colours have been pictured outside of homes and pubs ready for trading in Hampshire. Caravans and horse boxes are scattered around the town instead of cars, as all the roads were closed for the event. Traveller families are believed to have started to gather for the Wickham Horse Fair since 1269. Scenes at the yearly fair usually sees people flying down the street as they participate in street horse races. Others parade ponies down the road in a bid to find a willing buyer. Roads are packed with stalls and street vendors selling everything and anything. It is customary for the event to take place on May 20 - except when it falls on a Sunday. What is the Wickham Horse Fair? Wickham Horse Fair has been held in The Square in Wickham, Fareham, for almost 800 years. As is tradition, this year's fair is being held on Monday, May 20. It is customary for the event to take place on May 20 - except when it falls on a Sunday. 2022 saw it's official return following Covid lockdown restrictions. However, an unauthorised gathering took place in 2021 – with people selling, racing and admiring ponies as well as enjoying a funfair. It was back in full force for 2023 with spectacular traditional horse racing on display. The horse fair has been taking place since 1269, which is almost 800 years ago - making it one of the oldest horse fairs in the country. The Wickham Horse Fair traces its origins back to when Roger De Syres obtained a royal charter from King Henry III to have a weekly market in 1269. Over the years this morphed into an annual fair. The Wickham Horse Fair traces its origins back to when Roger De Syres obtained a royal charter from King Henry III to have a weekly market in 1269. Over the years this morphed into an annual fair. Some locals love the famous tradition, but others aren't so happy. Already, piles of rubbish have started to form from the fair. Over the last week, other villages have also played host to travellers looking to attend. Last year, locals blasted the historic fair as "shameful" due to the litter left behind. The high street was left caked in manure, bins overflowed with rubbish and cans of booze littered the pavements. Pub benches were covered in trash, unwanted food and empty alcohol bottles. Discarded cardboard boxes could also be seen pilled up while plastic bags were scattered along the picturesque roads. 10 10 10 10 10
