Associations between driving rein tensions and drivers’ reports of the behaviour and driveability of Standardbred trotters

Hartmann, Elke; Byström, Anna; Pökelmann, Mette; Connysson, M.; Kienapfel-Henseleit, Kathrin; Karlsteen, M.; McGreevy, Paul; Egenvall, Agneta

doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2022.105726

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…It was designed to measure the magnitudes of rein tension in Standardbreds driven on the racetrack, and to investigate drivers' experiences of the behavior and driveability of each horse they drove. The latter data are presented in detail in ( 23 ). The methods used in this study were approved under the protocol A 18-2021 by the Umeå Local Animal Ethics Committee.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A total of 11 drivers (7 females, 4 males) were enrolled in this study. Drivers were asked to complete a questionnaire ( 23 ) detailing their age, experience with horses and driving, as well as their handedness (whether using the right or left hand for writing, throwing, brushing teeth, cutting and eating with a spoon). Analysis revealed that ten of the eleven drivers were right-handed.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Rein tension in harness trotters during on-track exercise

Egenvall

Byström

Pökelmann³

et al. 2022

Front. Vet. Sci.

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Horseracing is under public scrutiny with increasing demands to safeguard horse welfare. It is accepted that, as a result of bit pressure and/or equipment, mouth lesions accompany many types of horse use, including racing. However, there are currently no data available on the range of bit pressures in driven trotters. Our aim was to investigate whether rein tension (RT, proxy for bit pressures) differs among gaits, between tempo within gait, between horses and drivers, and between left/right reins. Standardbreds (n = 9), driven by experienced drivers (n = 11), performed exercise tests on a racetrack (cross-over design; total 31 tests, data available from 26 tests). Horses' motion symmetry was measured before tests (trotting in hand). Rein tension, speed and heart rate were measured during exercise. A moving-window filter was applied to RT raw data. Median, maximum and interquartile range for the estimated stride median RT were determined for each rein (left/right) and segment: walk; circling in slow trot followed by transition to faster trot; fast (racing) trot; and slowing down to walk. Mixed models were used for statistical analysis. Least square means for segment median RT ranged between 17–19 N in walk, 34–40 N during circling-accelerating, 51–62 N in fast trot, and 53–71 N for slowing down. Segment maximum RT was between 60–81 N in walk, 104–106 N during circling-accelerating, 72–86 N in fast trot, and 86–129 N during slowing down. Interquartile ranges were between 7–9 N in walk, 28–31 N during circling-accelerating, 8–10 N in fast trot, and 12–18 N for slowing down. Hind limb asymmetry exceeded the recommended threshold in three horses and was associated with higher median (48 N) and maximum (106 N) RT than symmetric horses (29 N and 73 N, respectively, p < 0.01). Consistent left-right asymmetry in RT was more common among horses than among drivers. Rein tension increased with increasing heart rate (p ≤ 0.0006). Rein tensions were higher than those reported during riding or in horses worked from the ground. The findings of high RT, taken together with the high reported prevalence of oral injuries in harness trotters, call for further research into RT, motion symmetry and use of equipment.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rein tension in harness trotters during on-track exercise

Egenvall

Byström

Pökelmann³

et al. 2022

Front. Vet. Sci.

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“…The studied horses also spent more than two-thirds of the training session with an opened mouth (Table 3). This sign of discomfort is likely due to excessive reins tension, which is used in sulky races to restrain the horses before a release that makes the horse run faster (Hartmann et al, 2022); or pain induced by bits that can also cause breathing issues (Mellor, 2020). Good breathing ability is important to accommodate horse oxygen demand during physical exercise; however, opening of the mouth can partially or completely block air ow during inspiration and expiration, leading to breathlessness, which may enhance discomfort during training and subsequent physical tiredness (Mellor, 2020;Mellor and Beausoleil, 2017).…”

Section: Effects Physical Exercise On Post-training Behaviours and We...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Behaviours exhibited during training predict physical tiredness in harness racing horses

Hennes,

Briant,

Lorcet

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Physical activity, especially high-intensity exercise, leads to physiological and behavioural changes. The objectives of this study were to investigate i) the effects of physical exercise on weight, behaviours, and head and ear positions on the days after low-intensity training (LIT) or high-intensity training (HIT) and ii) if behaviours, facial expressions, and/or physiological parameters (sweat, salivation and blood lactate levels) during training predict post-training behaviours. A total of 19 French trotter horses housed in four different training centers were studied the day before (Dpre) and after LIT or HIT (afternoon after training (Dtraining) and 2 days after training (D1Post and D2Post)). The results showed that horses exhibited i) longer durations of resting and head below the withers (HBW) on Dtraining and D1Post than on Dpre and ii) shorter eating durations on D1Post and D2Post than on Dpre after HIT. This was associated with significant weight loss on D2Post. Several behaviours and facial expressions associated with discomfort (e.g., head conflict behaviours, nose behind the vertical, and opened mouth), as well as amount of sweat, predicted the durations of resting, HBW and eating on D1Post. Thus, behaviours are impacted by training, and a combination of behaviours, facial expressions and visible physiological parameters exhibited during training could predict physical tiredness in harness racing horses.

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“…In addition, the measurement range, sampling rate and resolution have to be adequate to cover the full spectrum of rein tension. A measuring range of 0-500 N will likely cover most ridden situations and will also be adequate for trotters (Hartmann et al, 2022), including a safety range without breaking (Eisersiö, 2013). The sampling rate should be at least 50 Hz, but preferably 100 Hz, to avoid missing peak values that could otherwise occur between the samples (Clayton et al, 2021).…”

Section: Measuring Rein Tensionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Straight from the horse’s mouth : What we can learn about rein tension by observing horse behaviour

Eisersiö

2023

Acta Universitatis Agriculturae Sueciae

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Horse-rider-interaction is largely dependent on rein tension signals which, through pressure and release, communicate with the horse about pace, direction of travel and appropriate head posture. However, the pressures applied on the horse’s mouth and/or head via the reins can cause pain and discomfort, leading to evasive behaviour and oral injuries. This thesis investigated rein tension signals from the perspective of equine behaviour and learning. Rein tension data were collected while backing up the horse from stand-still, with the handler standing next to the horse, comparing a bitted bridle with a soft halter, and in the ridden horse, making transitions from trot to walk using a bitted bridle. The results showed that rein tension signal magnitude could be reduced in a single training session through applying classical and operant learning principles. The rein tension signal was characterised by an increase in rein tension of less than 10 N (less than ~1kg) in each rein, regardless of baseline rein tension. Bit pressure elicited more evasive head/neck/mouth behaviour, with the main function to reduce oral pressure, compared with pressure on the nose from a soft halter. In terms of learning, the horses performed equally well with the halter and the bitted bridle. Thus studying horse behaviour can reveal the rein tension magnitude at which a horse feels comfortable and rein tension can be effectively reduced using the principles of classical and operant learning.

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Associations between driving rein tensions and drivers’ reports of the behaviour and driveability of Standardbred trotters

Cited by 6 publications

References 37 publications

Rein tension in harness trotters during on-track exercise

Rein tension in harness trotters during on-track exercise

Behaviours exhibited during training predict physical tiredness in harness racing horses

Straight from the horse’s mouth : What we can learn about rein tension by observing horse behaviour

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