After a lifetime of studying animals and their behaviour, Professor Paul McGreevy will tell you the most fascinating thing about our furry friends is their ability to tell us something important about ourselves.
Whether it's a glimpse into our own actions, how we treat others, or how we feel about ourselves, he says the way an animal reacts to our own behaviour can speak volumes.
“Animals hold up a mirror and tell us a lot about our own values and emotional baggage through the way they behave around us,” says UNE’s new scholar in Animal Behaviour and Welfare.
Formerly a Professor of Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare Science at The University of Sydney’s Veterinary School, Professor McGreevy has dedicated the past 25 years of his career as a veterinarian and researcher to increasing society's understanding of our four-legged friends, and how the way they're treated, managed and bred can affect their behaviour.
His renowned work in this space saw him go on to win the prestigious World Veterinary Association’s Global Animal Welfare Award just last year.
A deep dive into equine behaviour
To further explore what affects the behaviour of animals, Professor McGreevy is currently undertaking an important citizen science project called E-BARQ, which is set to dramatically improve horse welfare and guide future equine research.
“The Equine Behaviour Assessment and Research Questionnaire (E-BARQ) is an app where horse owners from all over the world can input data about how their horses are managed, ridden and trained,” he says.
“This means we can see how those three elements of the horse’s world come together to influence its behaviour as it interacts with humans.
“It also allows us to understand what is normal in equine behaviour and to benchmark individual horses against these new normal ranges.”
Animals hold up a mirror and tell us a lot about our own values and emotional baggage through the way they behave around us.
This means horse owners, trainers and vets can improve how the horse is handled, ridden or trained, and identify the most effective ways to boost performance.
Professor McGreevy says managing behaviour can be a powerful tool for advancing horse welfare.
“For example, if a horse is behaving inappropriately, the pressure that it's subjected to from the rider is usually escalated, which very rarely gives you the outcome you want,” he says.
“Contradictory techniques can force the horse to start trialling ‘conflict behaviours’, which could lead the horse to eventually bolt, buck, or rear.
“E-BARQ data has already shown how seemingly innocuous equine behaviours, such as pulling back when tied up, can predict the emergence of far more dangerous responses when ridden, such as bolting.”
The database now includes information on over 4000 horses from around the world, and has recently been translated into French, Spanish and Chinese.
Genetics and behaviour – is there a link?
Professor McGreevy says he is excited to grow the project while at UNE, and to hone in on the relationships between genetics and equine behaviour.
“There's clearly a strong appetite for more research into equine genetics, and through the existing canine equivalent of E-BARQ, we have seen some fascinating insights into the genetic influences on behaviour,” he says.
“UNE has such a strength in genetics and I think there are countless opportunities for animal welfare science to be more closely studied – not just in horses, but dogs too.”
Dogs and horses: ‘Ambassadors of the animal kingdom’
An avid dog-walker and owner of two beloved pups named Monkey and Neville, Professor McGreevy has also spent much of his career studying companion and working dogs. While at UNE, he hopes he can use his expertise in horses and dogs to encourage more people to care about animal welfare, and hopefully pursue a career in Animal Science.
“In my view, it's possible to see these species as ambassadors for the whole animal kingdom and as brokers for better animal welfare, as well as entry-level species for STEM subjects,” he says.
“My 25 years teaching veterinary students has shown me how important dogs and horses are to the public, and I know plenty of young people who have come to animal science through companion animal ownership and horse ownership.”
If you’d like to read more about Professor McGreevy’s work, click here. If you are a horse owner and would like to take part in E-BARQ, you can complete the questionnaire here.
