Can Horses Suffer From PTSD?

PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) is a mental health condition that can develop after someone experiences or witnesses a traumatic event. It is most commonly studied in humans, but researchers are also exploring how trauma affects animals, including horses. 

Symptoms in humans can include flashbacks, anxiety, hypervigilance, avoidance of certain situations, and mood changes. In horses, trauma may contribute to a variety of behaviours, including heightened reactivity or difficulty adapting to new environments and experiences. 

In this webinar, neuroscientist and equine behaviour consultant Emma Lethbridge  explores whether horses can develop PTSD-like symptoms, how trauma affects their behaviour, and what we can do to help them.

Key topics covered:

  • How trauma impacts the horse’s brain and behaviour

  • Behavioural signs that might indicate PTSD in horses

  • The mechanisms of trauma and stress in animals

  • What research tells us about trauma, memory, and stress regulation in both human and animals

  • Differences between human PTSD and trauma in horses

  • The role of training, management, and environment in rehabilitation

  • Practical ways to support horses who have experienced trauma


After the presentation, Emma answered questions from the audience.

This presentation is for horse owners, students, equine professionals.

Once enrolled, you have 60 days to watch this recording.

Who is this course for?

  • HORSE OWNERS

  • EQUINE STUDENTS

  • EQUINE PROFESSIONALS

Continuing Professional Development (CPD/CEU)

  • Course Contents

    1 x webinar recording and 1 x CPD/CEU quiz

  • Course Duration

    1.5 Hours

  • Certificate of Completion

    You can download a personalised CPD/CEU certificate after watching the webinar and completing the quiz.

  • BHS

    This course has been approved for 1 CPD points for BHS Accredited Professional Coaches by the British Horse Society. Upon course completion APCs can log their points by completing the CPD Feedback form on the BHS website.

  • IAABC

    This course has been approved for 1.5 Continuing Education Units (CEU) by the International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants (IAABC). You will need to request an IAABC CEU certificate directly from us, so please get in touch once you have completed the course and quiz.

  • IAAT

    Understand Horses is a trusted partner of the International Association of Animal Therapists, offering external CPD courses for its members.

  • KPA

    This course has been approved for 1.5 Continuing Education Units (CEU) by the Karen Pryor Association (KPA). Once you have completed the course you can contact us for an event code, then email both code and CEU certificate to the KPA.

Can Horses Suffer From PTSD?

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Your Instructors

EMMA LETHBRIDGE

Part neuroscientist, part horse fanatic, Emma is fascinated by the equine brain and how horses perceive and respond to their world. Emma has 32 years experience with horses, having been lucky enough to have been riding since she was four and to have had four wonderful family horses since the age of 12. In that time, Emma has studied horses to master’s level, read a degree in neuroscience and obtained a PhD in neuropsychology; she has also ridden in affiliated competitions, worked on professional yards, directed an equine learning centre, taught riding, helped many people with their horse’s behaviour and, more importantly than all of that combined, she has come to love equines not for what they can do for us, but for the wonderful creatures they are in their own right.

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