The fascination of horse behavior
Learn what being a horse means at its core
Retreat and workshop with behavioral biologist Marlitt Wendt
12.-15.06.2025
We delve deep into the world of horses and experience horses in their element. And lots and lots of horses. Around 140 horses of all ages live at La Perla Stud. We will experience mother mares with their foals, different groups of young horses, senior horses and breeding and riding horses on huge areas in stable herds.
A unique opportunity to find out how horses communicate with each other, what their world looks like and how they prefer to live.
The seminar is about experiencing and observing as well as the exciting scientific facts about horse behavior in theory.
Our main topics for the individual days are as follows:
Day 1: The diversity of horse behavior
Day 2: Expressive behavior: Learning to read facial expressions and body language
Day 3: Analyzing herd structures
Day 4: Understanding horse personalities
A herd of horses is a highly complex social structure that cannot simply be described using a linear hierarchy scale. There is not "the" one alpha horse, the legendary leading stallion or the leading mare who leads the herd and whom all the others follow unconditionally. Rather, the herd is a network of relationships. In order to understand this network of relationships as well as possible and to be able to draw conclusions from it for the group management of horses, many different aspects of the herd structure must be related to each other. Only when the herd is considered both in its composition and in its interactions can conclusions be drawn - scientifically speaking - about the degree of harmony or the potential for conflict in the group. In order to be able to assess the degree of well-being and the stress level on the other side, it is immensely important to know the horse's expressive behavior in its many small nuances.
We will work on a variety of topics in the course:
- Possible group constellations in nature and in our care
- Sociometric parameters and sociogram
- Life phases of the horse
- Assessing stress and well-being
- Understanding facial expressions and body language
- A comparison of husbandry systems
And, of course, we will also be able to experience the whole thing on site with the many wonderful horses from La Perla Stud. The more than 140 horses at the stud will be our object of study, because we will not only acquire knowledge in the theory room and exchange ideas on horse welfare, but also observe behavior in the herd. Because what you apply yourself is better remembered and can be better implemented at home. Of course, this includes close contact with the horses and cuddling their foals.
Information for participants:
Schedule:
June 12 from midday to evening
13. + June 14 all day
15. June until noon
Price
590.00 euros per person
(incl. snacks and drinks during the day)
Arrival and accommodation
Accommodation is booked by the participants themselves. Tips on hotels, guesthouses or vacation apartments can be found here.
Price categories from approx. EUR 55 per night and person.
The nearest airport is Madrid. From there you can reach the stud farm, about 130 km from the airport, best by rental car. Google Maps is the easiest way to find the Yeguada la Perla.
We can link you as participants with each other so that you can join forces, e.g. for a joint rental car booking. If you wish to do so, please give us your consent to pass on your contact details to the other participants.
Registration
by email to pferdsein@gmx.de
The face of the course - Marlitt Wendt
Behavioural biologist and seminar leader Marlitt Wendt is a recognized expert in the fields of equine cognition and ethology. She is dedicated to improving understanding between humans and horses and imparts practical expertise in the areas of learning behavior, communication and positive horse training.
