Equine Research Foundation
P. O. Box 3356, Santa Cruz, CA 95063
Dr. Evelyn B. Hanggi, President
Jerry Ingersoll, Manager
Business Description: Non-invasive scientific research into the thinking and learning abilities of horses.
Advancement of Knowledge Visit our articles & media page for titles of selected Equine Research Foundation articles and television and radio programs featuring the foundation.
The Equine Research Foundation supports research aimed at gaining a deeper understanding of the learning and cognitive capabilities of horses. The study of cognition is concerned with the mental processes, representations, and skills involved in thinking and learning. The researchers at the Equine Research Foundation are finding that horses have more advanced cognitive abilities than was previously thought and can solve complex problems that involve logic and reasoning. These studies show that horses are thinking creatures that respond best to humans who acknowledge their minds and emotions.
Educational Opportunities
The Equine Research Foundation provides experiential education to undergraduate and graduate students through internship and volunteer programs.
During the summer, the Foundation also offers one and two week clinics to the public that involve participants in all aspects of the Foundation's research and horse training. Participants gain hands-on experience working on a scientific project, learn about horse behavior, care, data analysis, and enjoy trail rides along the beach and in the mountains. In addition, participants learn about the Foundation's alternative training methods which are based on positive reinforcement and operant conditioning, equine social dynamics, and natural horsemanship. These clinics are open to the public and are tax deductible.
Visit our Programs page for more information on clinics, internships, and student volunteer opportunities.
For photos of past projects at the Equine Research Foundation, visit our ERF photos and Earthwatch photos pages. These photos, some of which were taken when the Equine Research Foundation was associated with Earthwatch, provide a sampling of our past and current daily activities. The new program that is now available at the Equine Research Foundation includes all of the activities that were available in the past plus a greater emphasis on horse behavior and training.
Helping Horses and Humans
Each year thousands of horses are bought with the best intentions. However, each year a like number are sold again because owners find that their ideas of horse ownership are not reality. Horse ownership requires time, money, and most importantly, knowledge. Understanding equine behavior is the key to excellence in horsemanship and understanding what horses learn and how to use this knowledge to help with horse training and handling is one of the most important aspects of successful horse management. One goal of the Equine Research Foundation is to make our results available so they can be used to improve human/horse interactions.
Equine Welfare
To understand and then satisfy a domestic animal’s needs, one must learn as much as possible about its basic psychological and behavioral processes. In the past, much time has been devoted to understanding the horse’s physiology but relatively little attention has been directed toward the horse’s mind. By ignoring psychological needs, humans create stress for horses and when stresses are prolonged, health and behavioral problems occur. When behavioral problems arise the horse is often blamed, then shuffled from one trainer to another only to be returned to the same conditions or sold repeatedly. Finally, the horse is labeled a “problem” and ends up in a slaughterhouse.
Psychological factors such as feeling, thinking, and remembering are cognitive processes that affect an animal's overall well-being. Therefore, if we want to provide the best environment, training, and handling methods for our horses, we need to understand their cognitive and motivational processes.
Visit the Discovery Channel for a story about our research.
What You Can Do
You can join the Equine Research Foundation's summer teams, internship program, or student volunteer program and assist with all aspects of the research as well as learn about alternative training techniques that rely on horse psychology, herd behavior, positive reinforcement and the human/horse bond.
You can also become a supporter of the Equine Research Foundation. Supporters help the foundation reach its goals by making donations of any size. As a supporter, you will receive copies of published scientific and general articles as well as progress updates. For more information on becoming a supporter, please contact us at EquiResF@aol.com.
The Equine Research Foundation relies on tax-deductible public donations and grants for its operating funds. Donations are used to further research, raise awareness, and for continuing education by making information available to the public through publications and program participation.
Contributions are tax-deductible.
The Equine Research Foundation is a public charity described by section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service. It is not a private foundation, as it is a non-profit organization described in sections 509(a)(1) and 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is run by a Board of five Directors.
Contact Us
For more information about participating in our program or to make a donation, write to:
Equine Research Foundation
P. O. Box 3356
Santa Cruz, CA 95063
Tel: (831) 662-9577 Fax: (831) 662-9575
Email: EquiResF@aol.com
Please send questions and comments to EquiResF@aol.com.