The best way to train a horse is to use techniques that "align with the horse's view of the world," according to Paul McGreevy, BVSc, MRCVS, PhD, MACVSc, associate professor of veterinary science at the University of Sydney in Camden, New South Wales, Australia, who recently published a paper on the topic.

It is possible to train even the most unruly horse effectively and humanely by using techniques that are relevant to a horse's cognitive abilities, according to McGreevy. He believes that training techniques such as hyperflexion of the neck (rollkur) and the use of electric shock collars can actually inhibit learning, confuse the animal, and compromise his welfare.

"Some people believe horses have cognitive powers similar to our own and that, therefore, horses know when they have misbehaved," he said. A horse has no way of connecting misbehavior to a correction like water deprivation, he continued.

"Excellent technique relies on clarity, timing, and consistency," he said