In this episode of 'Mad About Horses', Dr. Chris Mortensen reflects on the emotional investment in horse ownership, and then delves into the financial side of owning and caring for horses. He talks about his personal experiences, the benefits of horse riding for health and mental wellbeing, and the various costs involved. Costs of ownership range from purchasing a horse, providing adequate facilities, feeding, and medical care, including veterinary visits and equine insurance. Dr....

Dr. Chris Mortensen, an equine researcher and educator, discusses the profound benefits of horse riding and ownership in this episode of Mad About Horses. Beyond physical benefits such as improved posture, muscular strength, flexibility, and heart rate, Mortensen highlights psychological advantages like stress reduction, mood enhancement, increased self-esteem, and a heightened sense of control. He combines personal insights and scientific research findings, acknowledging how interaction...

Dr. Chris Mortensen tells the history of draft horses and their considerable influence on many aspects of society like farming, transportation and industrialization. He talks about their manifestation following the prohibition era in the United States and their subsequent popularization through the Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales. Dr. Mortensen introduces the term 'horsepower' and discusses its origin in relation to the strength of a draft horse. Details are given on draft horse breeds such as...

In this episode of 'Mad About Horses', Dr. Chris Mortensen delves into the important and complex topic of recognizing and understanding horse emotions. Dr. Mortensen shares personal anecdotes to illustrate how horses experience emotions like separation anxiety and happiness, emphasizing the value of observing their body language, facial expressions, and behavior. The episode emphasizes the importance of a calm, relaxed demeanor when dealing with horses and how their interaction with humans...

Dr. Chris Mortensen, an experienced equine educator and researcher, takes listeners through the complexities and nuances of equine communication in this podcast episode of 'Mad About Horses'. He explores the fascinating research related to wild equines, specifically the Somali wild ass, and their means of communication including body language, olfactory responses, and signals encoded in gene expression. He branches over to domestic horses and how they too communicate. Dr. Mortensen...

What makes a champion Dressage horse? What makes a champion show jumping or eventing horse? How about what makes a good therapeutic riding horse? Listen for these answers and more in this week's Mad About Horses Podcast. Dr. Chris Mortensen starts off this podcast episode by delving into the incredible story of Lis Hartel, a Danish dressage rider who overcame polio to become a champion. He discusses Lis's significant contributions to equestrian sports and therapeutic riding. The episode...

What makes a champion a champion? Which breeds are excelling in which disciplines? In this week's podcast, Dr. Chris Mortensen, an equine science researcher and educator, discusses the key elements that make a horse a champion in Western disciplines like barrel racing, cutting, and reining. Special focus is given to the 'DM Sissy Hey Day' horse which set a world record in barrel racing, emphasizing the indispensable role of breed, conformation, and heart in horse championship.  Dr....

What do horses do all day? What should they be doing all day compared to their wild counterparts? A critical topic for any horse owner or enthusiast. In this episode, Dr. Chris Mortensen, an equine educator and researcher, discusses the experience of observing the behaviors of equids throughout the day. He notes the vital importance of understanding the natural behaviors of horses and other equids as it influences how they are managed, fed, and looked after. Dr. Mortensen references...

This episode of the Mad About Horses podcast delves into the history of various equestrian sports, tracing their origins and development over the years. Dr. Chris Mortensen, PhD. opens with the inspiring story of Pat Smith, a trailblazer in the field of show jumping. The discussion moves on to the birth and rise of various equestrian sports such as chariot racing, horse racing, show jumping, and dressage. The episode also highlights the role of certain organizations like the FEI...

Dr. Chris Mortensen delves deep into the factors influencing horse performance including age, breed, gender, and behavior. Through detailed discussions and research study examples, he highlights the peak performance years in various disciplines, from racing to show jumping and eventing. The podcast also highlights the remarkable career of Zenyatta, an American mare who excelled in horse racing. Furthermore, it discusses the importance of diet in performance and potential links between...

In this episode of the 'Mad About Horses' podcast, Dr. Chris Mortensen discusses the factors that influence equine athletic performance, including conformation, stride rates, confirmation, and gait. He delves into stride length and frequency in thoroughbreds and quarter horses, explores how horses' basic anatomy enables their varied athletic abilities, and discusses how equine conformation relates to their athletic performance. Dr. Mortensen also notes the need for defining traits based...

In this episode of 'Mad About Horses', Dr. Chris Mortensen, an equine science researcher and educator, discusses several popular horse breeds from around the world. A personal recount of his experience with horses opens the discussion, including famous racehorse Secretariat. The show explores breeds like Arabian, American Quarter Horse, and Thoroughbred - some of the most populous breeds globally. Some of the unique pony and draft horses, such as Fallabella and Shire horse, are also...

In this podcast, Dr. Chris Mortensen elaborates in-depth about how horses perceive the world through their senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste. Human interactions with horses often rely on understanding these senses, which differ significantly from human sensory perceptions. Horses have strong monocular vision, wide hearing ranges, and a keen sense of smell. They also possess a sophisticated sense of touch, central to training and bonding, and dichromatic taste...

In this podcast episode, Dr. Chris Mortensen delves into the vast population of horses, donkeys, zebras - collectively known as equids - across the globe. He provides a snapshot of where these creatures live, their respective numbers, and the key roles they play in various societies. The episode also tracks their impressive journey from the wild plains of Africa to becoming domesticated animals around the world. Dr. Mortensen highlights that even in our technologically advanced era,...

In this compelling episode, Dr. Chris Mortensen delve into the rich history and intriguing theories behind the domestication of horses. He discusses ancient DNA studies, their impact on our understanding of horse and donkey evolution and domestication, and how language played a crucial role in tracing human migration patterns. The primary focus is on the domestication of the Equus ferus into modern day Equus caballus or the common domestic horse. Dr. Mortensen in his discussion extends to...

In this episode of "Mad About Horses," we dive into the fascinating world of equine evolution. We embark on a journey that takes us from the distant past, over two and a half million years ago, to the present day, exploring the origins of the modern horse and its various relatives. Here's a summary of the key points covered in this episode: Introduction The episode begins by setting the stage, emphasizing the evolution of Equus and how it led to today's horse species inhabiting every...

Horses have been humankind's constant companions for thousands of years, and their hoofprints have left an indelible mark on our world. In this thought-provoking introductory episode, we delve into the profound influence horses have had on human evolution and history. We start off by asking you to contemplate all the animals that have most significantly impacted human history. This thought experiment leads us on a journey through time, from the moment a brave human first mounted a wild...

Why are there so many horse breeds in the world? What are the different breeds of horses and what differentiates them? When did selective breeding for horses first begin?   Dr. Chris Mortensen, an equine science researcher and educator with over 20 years of experience, tells us the fascinating story of why there are so many horse breeds. He starts off this episode by discussing the mysterious disappearance of wild horses from the Americas 10,000 years ago. We jump into how horses made a...

In this episode of "Mad About Horses", we embark on an incredible journey through the evolutionary history of horses, spanning millions of years. This exploration is crucial for gaining insights into why horses are the way they are today, and is must-know information for any equine enthusiast. Our journey begins 65 million years ago, in a vastly different world from what we know today. The Earth was home to a wide array of fantastical creatures, including Tyrannosaurus Rex and other...