Dr. Stephen Peters is a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist and internationally recognized equine neuroscientist. With more than three decades of experience in brain research and clinical practice, he brings together human and equine neuroscience to support thoughtful, science-informed horsemanship.

He completed advanced training in neurotrauma, neurosurgery, and neurology at Hartford Hospital and later served as Chief of Neuropsychological Services in a large neurology practice, as well as Clinical Director of hospital-based brain health programs. For more than a decade, Dr. Peters has presented neuroscience concepts to equestrian audiences across the United States and internationally, including Canada and Europe, and by invitation at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna.

In recent years, he founded Horse Brain Science Clinics, combining classroom instruction, live horse demonstrations, and equine brain dissections to provide clear, practical insight into behavior, learning, stress, and welfare. He collaborates with Jillian Kreinbring to present a five-day Functional Anatomy and Horse Brain Science program at Colorado State University and Averett University in Virginia. Together, they will also launch The Skeptical Horseman podcast this summer, creating a platform for critical thinking and conversations grounded in peer-reviewed research.

Dr. Peters has appreciated opportunities to present to veterinary audiences in the United States and Europe. He has presented at Clyde Veterinary Hospital in Scotland and looks forward to upcoming presentations at Tierklinik Lüsche in Germany and at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna in the summer of 2026. Throughout his work, Dr. Peters has had the opportunity to collaborate with many professionals in the equine field. Some of those collaborations include Warwick Schiller, Martin Black, Mark Rashid, Jim Masterson, and Sarah Schlote. He is also looking forward to an upcoming collaboration with Dr. Andrew McLean, bringing together neuroscience and equitation science in continued exploration of the horse–human partnership.

Dr. Peters is the author of Horse Brain Science: The Neuroscience of Ethical Horsemanship. His forthcoming book, Horse Brain Science Simplified: A Foundation for Equine Neuroscience, scheduled for release in October 2026, provides a practical and accessible foundation for understanding how brain science applies to everyday work with horses.

In 2012, he co-authored Evidence-Based Horsemanship with Martin Black, a book that helped bring neuroscience into modern horsemanship conversations and remains a cornerstone for many riders and trainers.

He is also co-author, with Mark Rashid and Crissi McDonald, of A Horse’s Life: The Neuroscience of Equine Welfare, releasing this summer. The book draws from real-life experiences in Mark and Crissi’s work with horses, with Dr. Peters offering scientific insight into the behavioral challenges explored.

Dr. Peters lives in Colorado with his wife Michelle and their 6 horses, 3 Australian Shepherds, and a barn cat, where daily observation continues to inform his teaching and research.

His Vision: Understanding the horse’s brain is the most direct path to better communication, reduced stress, and deeper connection between horse and rider — science serving the art of horsemanship.