Scientists, and an increasing number of horse owners, know more than ever about how the mind of a horse works, how to motivate them in training, what they feel, and how to ensure their well-being. However, up-to-date scientific knowledge is not always easily accessible to the horse-owning public who do not read scientific publications or books.
A new approach to science communication has arrived thanks to a Finnish science communication company, Arador Innovations, who authored the non-fiction graphic novel Hevosen mieli. Tiedettä sarjakuvana (The Mind of a Horse. Science Meets Comics) as a new method for public communication of equitation science with the aim of a substantial, positive impact on equine welfare.
Designed for both teenage readers and adults, the book was discussed at the 2025 International Society for Equitation Science conference, as it is believed to be the first non-fiction graphic novel or book-length comic published on the cognition, ethology, or welfare science of any species of animal in Europe. The presenters noted that several challenges had to be addressed in the book’s development process:
(1) selecting the right team of science communication and science illustration professionals,
(2) delivering information and incorporating reference materials to readers ranging from children to adults as well as beginners to advanced equestrians,
(3) managing psychological factors such as guilt and shame when readers are faced with information that may conflict with their own practices, and
(4) choosing the most effective marketing strategies for the equestrian sector in the current Finnish market.
The book focuses on three horses ‒ Shadow, Phoenix and Spark ‒ from their perspective and their owners. It explains how horses experience their world, what matters most to their well-being, how problem behaviour can be prevented and solved, how horses’ learning ability can be maximized, and ways to deepen the relationship between horse and human. The book also includes in-depth text pages and QR codes that allow the reader to gain additional information on the topics they want.
The number of copies of Hevosen mieli sold so far is four times more than the average number for non-fiction books on any topic in Finland, suggesting that it could be an innovative way for the scientific community to effectively disseminate information about equine welfare to the public.
The Mind of a Horse is available translated into English here.
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