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Claire Ricci-Bonot
Ricci-Bonot Claire
claire.ricci-bonot@inrae.fr
Post-doctoral researcher, INRAE
Team CEB, UMR PRC
In recent years, my research has focused on improving horse welfare, particularly through better recognition of their emotional states. To do this, I have used various indicators, including facial expressions, behaviour and physiological measures. For example, I led a project aimed at identifying facial expressions associated with frustration during feeding in horses. I have also investigated individual responses to potentially stressful situations, such as changes in housing, separation or the loss of a companion. This work has led me to develop and use new approaches, including methods based on artificial intelligence.

Alongside this, I have worked on cognition in detection dogs, with the aim of improving their performance in the field. Part of my research focused on new methods for assessing scent detection distance, as well as cognitive tasks involving the learning of concepts such as “same” and “different”.

I am currently a postdoctoral researcher on the Emodour project, which aims to determine whether horses are sensitive to human body odours associated with emotional states.

Alongside my research activities, I have been involved in the COST Action AFFECT-EVO (“Phylogenetic Analysis of Affective States”) since late 2024. I contribute to two working groups: one focused on advancing fundamental knowledge of affective states across species, and the other on assessing these states to improve animal welfare. I am also involved in the ManyGoats research group, which aims to improve goat welfare through better management practices.

Finally, as a member of the Ethics Committee of the International Society for Applied Ethology (ISAE), I help ensure the welfare of animals used in research, notably by reviewing presentations submitted to international conferences.

Education and Career

  • 2025: Postdoctoral researcher on “Tracking Equine Expressions: An AI-Validated Dataset of Horse Facial Landmarks in Real-World Settings”, funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), followed by “Metacognition, Categorisation and Memory in Detection Dogs”, funded by Border Force. Department of Animal Behaviour, Cognition and Welfare, University of Lincoln, UK.
  • 2023–2025: Postdoctoral researcher on “New Methods for Assessing Scent Detection Distance in Dogs”, funded by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL). Department of Animal Behaviour, Cognition and Welfare, University of Lincoln, UK.
  • 2022: Researcher in Dog Welfare on “Amylase as a Biomarker in Dogs”. Department of Animal Behaviour, Cognition and Welfare, University of Lincoln, UK.
  • 2022: Postdoctoral researcher on “Recognising Facial Expressions of Frustration in Horses”, funded by The Horse Trust, followed by “Do Some Dogs Prefer Travelling in Electric Cars?”, funded by Performance Communications. Department of Animal Behaviour, Cognition and Welfare, University of Lincoln, UK.
  • 2021: Visiting fellowship in the Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Italy, to investigate the “Effects of Management Practices on Equine Cognition”.
  • 2017–2021: PhD in Animal Behaviour, Department of Animal Behaviour, Cognition and Welfare, University of Lincoln, UK. Thesis: “Investigating Social Support as a Potential Method for Reducing Stress Responses and Improving Horse Welfare”.
  • 2015–2016: Master’s degree in Fundamental and Comparative Ethology (research track), University of Paris XIII, France.
  • 2014–2015: First year of a research Master’s degree in Biology, Agronomy and Health, specialising in Animal and Human Behaviour, University of Rennes 1, France.
  • 2014: Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences, specialising in Organismal Biology, University of Rennes 1, France.

 

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