CODE OF PRACTICE FOR THE CARE AND HANDLING OF EQUINES - 2013
76
Understanding Flight Zone, Point of Balance
and Field of Vision
Appendix G
Flight Zone:
1
This is the space surrounding a horse that, when penetrated, causes the horse to move
to reestablish a comfortable distance. Low-stress handling is based on applying and releasing pressure
ontheedgeof theightzoneideallyneverpenetratingthezonesoaggressivelythatthehorsebecomes
frightenedand“takesight”.Youhaveenteredahorse’sightzonethemomentyourapproachcauses
thehorsetomoveaway.Asahorsebecomesmorefearful,itsightzonewillincrease.
Point of Balance:
1
The point of balance is located in the shoulder area of the horse. The handler should
stand behind the point of balance at the shoulder to make the horse go forward and stand in front of the
point of balance at the shoulder to make an animal back up.
Field of Vision:
2
When looking to the side, horses have monocular vision (each eye can operate
independently). When looking forward, they have binocular vision (eyes operate in tandem). Horses take
longer than humans to adjust to changes in light intensity and they have poor depth perception so may
baulk at shadows or puddles.
1 Grandin,T(2010)Howtoimprovelivestockhandlingandreducestress.Pages64-87inImprovingAnimalWelfare:APracticalApproach.
T.Grandin,ed.CABInternational,Oxfordshire,UK.
2 Woods, J. (2010) Recommended handling guidelines and animal welfare assessment tool for horses. Horse Welfare Alliance of Canada.
Leftimagesource:DevelopedbytheAlbertaEquineWelfareGroupforthebooklet“HumaneHandlingGuidelinesforHorses–Standards
fortheCareofUntAnimals”availablefordownloadunderResourcesatwww.horsewelfare.ca
Rightimagesource:JWoods(2010)Recommendedhandlingguidelinesandanimalwelfareassessmenttoolforhorses.HorseWelfare
Alliance of Canada.