A Position Paper by Kerry M. Thomas The conversation surrounding equine welfare has evolved significantly over time, and in many ways, that evolution has brought meaningful improvements to the physical care and management of the horse. Standards have been raised, environments refined, and awareness increased across disciplines. Yet, despite these advancements, there remains a critical element of the horse’s lived experience that continues to be underrepresented within the bro

This position paper explores how animals perceive the environments humans create and why understanding animal perception is essential to ethical stewardship. Examining equine behavior, livestock management, and companion animal care, it highlights how movement, social structure, and environmental design influence welfare, health, and performance. A framework for building animal-centered systems that balance productivity with responsible care.

Why equine infrastructure fails when sensory architecture is ignored. In this position paper, Kerry M. Thomas explores how environmental design, acoustic reflection, spatial compression, lighting disruption, and herd isolation shape equine stress, biology, performance, and institutional risk. Discover how sensory modeling mitigates welfare exposure and operational liability in modern equine facilities.