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