Horses Learn to Talk Using Symbols in Norway Study

Imagine your horse could tell you whether it wants a blanket after a workout, or which saddle feels most comfortable.

Norwegian and Swedish researchers are making that possible through the HorseVoice project, which teaches horses to use symbols to express their preferences. The breakthrough builds on earlier research where horses successfully learned to communicate whether they wanted to wear blankets or not.

Led by researcher Grete H.M. Jørgensen at the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, the project goes far beyond weather protection. Horses could eventually tell us about their favorite training methods, equipment, feed, or living conditions.

Students at Skjetlein Upper Secondary School in Norway and Strömsholm National Equestrian Center in Sweden are training their own horses in the symbol method. After exercise sessions, the horses choose whether they want blankets by touching specific symbols.

The project tackles an uncomfortable question that's gained urgency after recent scandals involving unethical horse treatment in elite equestrian sports. Do we actually understand how our horses feel?

The Ripple Effect

The social impact might be even more powerful than the science. Researchers from Malmö University are studying whether students who learn to communicate with horses this way begin seeing them differently.

Early interviews suggest the training shifts perspectives. Young riders start viewing their horses less as sports equipment and more as individuals with their own needs and opinions.

The project raises fascinating ethical questions too. What happens when a horse's preference conflicts with what we want? What if a horse chooses not to be ridden at all?

The research team includes experts from four institutions: NIBIO, the Norwegian Veterinary Institute, Ridskolan Strömsholm, and Malmö University. Together, they're developing a practical handbook so horse owners, trainers, and schools can adopt the method.

In 2026, researchers will systematically ask fully trained horses about their blanket preferences after exercise. They're also gathering photo and video materials for the handbook, which they hope will spread throughout the equestrian sector.

The symbol method offers something revolutionary: treating horses as partners rather than property. When animals can express their needs clearly, ignoring those preferences becomes much harder to justify.

Listening to what horses have to say could reshape an entire industry built on understanding them better.