Behavioral and physiological responses of horses to initial training: the comparison between pastured versus stalled horses

Rivera, Evelyn M.; Benjamin, Sophiya; Nielsen, B.D.; Shelle, J. E.; Zanella, A. J.

doi:10.1016/s0168-1591(02)00091-6

Cited by 126 publications

(108 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…no mating necessity), separation from mares may be a necessity as they would then, as a limited resource, be a source of aggressiveness. Breeders or riders may benefit from keeping stallions in families or bachelor groups, which in turn would increase their welfare and make them more manageable (see also Rivera et al, 2002;Sondergaard and Halekoh, 2003;Sondergaard and Ladewig, 2004). Group stability should be enhanced, leading to more peaceful interactions.…”

Section: Conclusion: Towards Better Practicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Exploring aggression regulation in managed groups of horses Equus caballus

Fureix

Bourjade²,

Henry

et al. 2012

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

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General rightsThis document is made available in accordance with publisher policies. Please cite only the published version using the reference above. Full terms of use are available: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/pure/about/ebr-terms 1 Exploring aggression regulation in managed groups of horses Equus caballusAbstract. Horses are highly social animals that have evolved to live in social groups.However, in modern husbandry systems, single housing prevails where horses experience social isolation, a challenge-to-welfare factor. One major reason for this single housing is the owners' concerns that horses may injure each other during aggressive encounters. However, in natural conditions, serious injuries due to aggressive encounters are rare. What could therefore explain the claimed risks of group living for domestic horses? Basing our questioning on the current knowledge of the social life of horses in natural conditions, we review different practices that may lead to higher levels of aggression in horses and propose practical solutions.Observations of natural and feral horses mostly indicate a predominance of low frequencies and mild forms of aggression, based on subtle communication signals and ritualized displays and made possible by group stability (i.e. stable composition), dominance hierarchy and learning of appropriate social skills by young horses. Obviously, adults play a major role here in canalizing undesirable behaviours, and social experience during development, associated with a diversity of social partners, seems to be a prerequisite for the young horse to become socially skilled.Given the natural propensity of horses to have a regulation of aggression in groups, the tendency to display more aggression in groups of domestic horses under some management practices seems clearly related to the conditions offered. We therefore review the managing practices that could trigger aggressiveness in horses. Non social practices (space, resource availability) and social practices (group size, stability of membership, composition and opportunities for social experiences during development) in groups of domestic horses are discussed here.2 Finally, we propose simple practical solutions leading to more peaceful interactions in groups of domestic horses, based on the knowledge of horses' natural social life which therefore should be enhanced (e.g. ensuring roughage availability, favouring group stability,, introducing socially experienced adults in groups of young horses;…). The state of the art indicates that many questions still need to be answered. Given the importance of the associated welfare issues and the consequences on the use of horses, further research is required, which could benefit horses… and humans.

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Section: Conclusion: Towards Better Practicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Social deprivation also leads to aggressive behaviours when horses are confronted again to conspecifics, and to undesirable behaviours at work (e.g. biting, kicking humans during training, Rivera et al, 2002;Sondergaard and Halekoh, 2003;Sondergaard and Ladewig, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring aggression regulation in managed groups of horses Equus caballus

Fureix

Bourjade²,

Henry

et al. 2012

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

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“…The predominant housing system used in domestic horses is individual stabling in box stalls that measure around 9-13m 2 (Rivera et al 2002) and horses are often confined in these stalls for large proportions of the day. This type of management style is used for several reasons, including injury prevention and convenience for the owner (Goodwin 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In their natural habitat horses form harem bands that are typically comprised of mares and their foals, yearlings and one stallion (Rivera et al 2002) and these cohesive bands can roam areas of land up to 78km 2 (Green and Green, 1977). In contrast, domestic horses are kept in a variety of housing systems which offer differing levels of physical freedom, social opportunities and ability to forage which some horses find stressful.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Domesticated horses differ in their behavioural and physiological responses to isolated and group housing

Yarnell

Hall

Royle

et al. 2015

Physiology & Behavior

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The predominant housing system used for domestic horses is individual stabling however, housing that limits social interaction and requires the horse to live in semi-isolation has been reported to be a concern for equine welfare. The aim of the current study was to compare behavioural and physiological responses of domestic horses in different types of housing design that provided varying levels of social contact. Horses (n = 16) were divided equally into four groups and exposed to each of four housing treatments for a period of five days per treatment in a randomized block design. The four housing treatments used were single housed no physical contact (SHNC), single housed semi contact (SHSC), paired housed full contact (PHFC) and group housed full contact (GHFC). During each housing treatment, adrenal activity was recorded using non-invasive faecal corticosterone metabolite analysis (fGC). Thermal images of the eye were captured and eye temperature assessed as a non-invasive measure of the stress response. Behavioural analysis of time budget was carried out and an ease of handling score was assigned to each horse in each treatment using video footage. SHNC horses had significantly higher (p = 0.01) concentrations of fGC and were significantly (p = 0.003) more difficult to handle compared to the other housing types. GHFC horses, although not significantly different, had numerically lower concentrations of fGC and were more compliant to handling when compared to all other housing treatments. Eye temperature was significantly (p = 0.0001) lower in the group housed treatment when compared to all other treatments. These results indicate that based on physiological and behavioural measures incorporating social contact into the housing design of domestic horses could improve the standard of domestic equine welfare.

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“…Many studies confirm the high correlation between the stress response and HR (8,9,15). This was also proven in a study where HR values were correlated together with the level of cortisol -the stress hormone (5,19,23). Therefore, on the basis of the obtained results, it is possible to correlate HR with reactions on particular behavioural interactions between horses and humans, environment and breeding procedures.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 64%

Variability of Heart Rate in Primitive Horses and Their Relatives as an Indicator of Stress Level, Behavioural Conduct Towards Humans and Adaptation to Living in Wild

Pluta

Osiński

2014

Bulletin of the Veterinary Institute in Pulawy

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The aim of the study was to evaluate the possibility of using heart rate (HR) as a metric parameter that can be used for the characterisation of behaviour of primitive horses and their relatives, related to reactions to the stress resulting from the contact with humans and adaptation to living in various conditions, including natural environment. This characterisation served the authors to expand the knowledge of such behaviour of primitive horses, and to assess the impact of the environmental and genetic factors. Studies were conducted in three populations of horses: two herds of Polish Konik and one herd of Biłgoraj horses. The studies were performed between 1993 and 2010. They concerned the behaviour of horses during grooming -breeding procedures (hooves clearing, body measurements) performed cyclically and the daily observations when HR was monitored continuously. HR results for the respective age categories, during particular grooming -breeding procedures and reserve observations indicate that Polish Konik horses, closely related to the primitive Tarpan breed, are genetically better adapted to living in conditions similar to the natural (reserve) than the Biłgoraj horses. They show less stress symptoms, which are evidenced by HR values noted during inhabiting the natural environment.

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Behavioral and physiological responses of horses to initial training: the comparison between pastured versus stalled horses

Cited by 126 publications

References 16 publications

Exploring aggression regulation in managed groups of horses Equus caballus

Exploring aggression regulation in managed groups of horses Equus caballus

Domesticated horses differ in their behavioural and physiological responses to isolated and group housing

Variability of Heart Rate in Primitive Horses and Their Relatives as an Indicator of Stress Level, Behavioural Conduct Towards Humans and Adaptation to Living in Wild

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