The Mind of a Horse
- a unique combination of comic-book art and scientific storytelling!
A captivating tour to the inner world of horses! For horse hobbyists, owners, and anyone interested in animals, whether grown-up or young.
The book will be published in late 2023. The English-language-version will become available for pre-ordering soon. Pre-ordering of the Finnish-language version is available now.
Scroll down to see sample comics from the Finnish-language version!
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Cutting-edge scientific knowledge
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Practical expert advice on horse behavior and well-being
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Visually captivating, like a graphic novel
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Created by a leading Finnish expert in animal behavior science and by renowned artists
Your pre-odrering gift: a fun and handy guide to facial expressions!
The Mind of a Horse is made possible by fundraising via pre-orders. As a special gift for those pre-ordering the book, we created a pdf guide to recognizing horse emotions by their facial expression. You will get it immediately after paying for your pre-order. Install it on your phone and enjoy it for fun, or compare the expressions you see on horses in real life!
Topics covered in the book
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Learning and training: The secrets to great learning results by using positive reinforcement with skill
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Problem behaviors: How do they develop, and how can you prevent and cure them?
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Social behavior: Which tweaks in the stable structures, paddock, or pasture make it easier for horses to peacefully enjoy each other's company?
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Senses and the environment: How do horses perceive their surroundings, and which environments best promote their well-being?
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Activity: Why do horses benefit from adding free choice to their daily life, and what are the species-specific behavioral needs of horses?
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Motivations and consciousness: How do motivations actually work in a horse's brain? Can horses think? What kind of conscious experience do horses have?
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Emotions: How do they work in a horse's mind, and how can you make a difference in a horse's feelings?
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Pain: What types of pain are most common among horses, how can you recognize pain and what can you do about it?
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Development of a foal: How does the early environment shape a foal's mind for the rest of its life?
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Relationships with humans: How do horses perceive us? How can you achieve an even deeper relationship with your favorite horse?
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And much more...
The story is told from the viewpoint of three different horses, and from that of their fictional but deeply relatable owners. Follow the lives of Shadow, Spark, Phoenix and their friends as they navigate the joys and challenges of life, each getting transformed during their journey.
The experts and artists creating the book
The Mind of a Horse is brought to you by a team consisting of top Finnish experts in the science and practice of horse behavior and well-being, as well as top Finnish artists and illustrators specializing in animals.
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Scientific content and text by Dr Helena Telkänranta
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Art by Maija Karala and Ville Sinkkonen
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Planning and storyline by Dr Helena Telkänranta and Maija Karala
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Consultancy in practical horsemanship by Minna Tallberg
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Layout by Heikki Laurila
Sample comics from the Finnish-language version
The below frames and pages are excerpts from various sections of the book, created to give you a peek into the book in advance.
What kind of touch do horses like - and why?
Did you know that horses have a phenomenal sense of smell?
Many things about horse behavior become easier to understand in the light of their ancestry.
Horses' background also explains why they want to stand firm when feeling threatened.
Many common problems have logical causes. Knowing more about them helps in solving them.
An important part of the book are science-based solutions that have been proven to work in practice when meeting the challenges of horse handling.
We will also look at our familiar habits in new ways:
...and explore the latest science on how to promote the development of a healthy, stable horse mind.
