Investigations Into Equine Transport-Related Problem Behaviors: Survey Results

Padalino, Barbara; Henshall, Cathrynne; Raidal, Sharanne; Knight, Peter; Celi, Pietro; Jeffcott, L. B.; Muscatello, Gary

doi:10.1016/j.jevs.2016.07.001

Cited by 20 publications

(61 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…In the current study, it was found that injuries were twice as likely to have been sustained in incidents occurring during the first hour of travel compared with later in the journey, suggesting that additional measures should be taken to help the horse adapt to the transport environment. Ensuring that the horse is habituated to the transport environment has been shown to reduce the risk of injury [27] and non-aversive training in preparation for the situation would reduce behavioural signs of anxiety [28]. An additional stressor during transport is isolation when transporting single animals [23].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, some aspects of equine behaviour during transportation undoubtedly increase the risk of injury to both horse and human [26]. A survey investigating transport-related problem behaviours found that habituation to the transport situation reduced the risk of equine injury during transportation [27]. There is currently more focus on training in preparation for loading horses into transport vehicles than on preparing for the actual journey [27,28], but the results of a survey of horses exhibiting trailer problems indicated that problems associated with travelling were only slightly less prevalent (51.5%) than problems associated with loading (53.4%) [29].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Replication of the non-commercial transport experience in an experimental situation is challenging and would not reflect the variety of road conditions experienced in reality [5]. Consequently, a retrospective survey-based approach has been used in previous studies to evaluate the risk of injury during equine transport [6,7,27,29,30]. To date, surveys aimed at evaluating these risk factors in the non-commercial transport of equines have been conducted in Australia [6,27,30], New Zealand [7] and the United States [29].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

A Retrospective Survey of Factors Affecting the Risk of Incidents and Equine Injury During Non-Commercial Transportation by Road in the United Kingdom

Hall

Kay

Green³

2020

Animals

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The number of equines injured as a result of incidents during road transport is currently unknown in the United Kingdom. Although previous research has identified factors that affect an equine’s behavioural and physiological responses to transportation, their contribution to incident occurrence and injury risk is unclear. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with incident occurrence and equine injury during transportation by road. An online survey was administered between 12 May 2017 and 21 July 2017 in the UK. The survey was open to those transporting equines non-commercially and comprised two sections. Questions relating to general transport behaviour were completed by all participants. Participants who had experienced an incident then provided details of these, including outcomes. Incidents were reported by 16.2% (342/2116) of participants, with details included for 399 incidents. Those participants who had a professional/competitive involvement with equines reported more incidents than those with a predominantly leisure involvement (p < 0.01). Equine behaviour was the attributed cause of 56% of incidents reported and most incidents occurred during the first hour of travel (65%). In over 50% of the incidents reported, the equine was injured, with those incidents attributed to transport vehicle malfunction being associated with the highest percentage of injury (68%). This study highlights the need for better preparation of the equine for transportation and to identify risk factors associated with transport vehicle type, design and operation.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Retrospective Survey of Factors Affecting the Risk of Incidents and Equine Injury During Non-Commercial Transportation by Road in the United Kingdom

Hall

Kay

Green³

2020

Animals

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“…Transporting domestic horses for recreational, sporting, breeding, and agricultural purposes is common; however, the training and management of horses for transportation presents several challenges and can result in the manifestation of what is referred to as transport-related problem behaviours (TRPBs) [ 41 , 72 ]. To demonstrate the extent of this issue, a YouTube keyword search of ‘horse trailer loading’ produced over 67,000 results in September 2016.…”

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confidence: 99%

How to minimise the incidence of transport-related problem behaviours in horses: a review

York

Matusiewicz

Padalino

2017

JES

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This review aims to provide practical outcomes on how to minimise the incidence of transport-related problem behaviours (TRPBs) in horses. TRPBs are unwanted behaviours occurring during different phases of transport, most commonly, a reluctance to load and scrambling during travelling. TRPBs can result in injuries to horses and horse handlers, horse trailer accidents, disruption of time schedules, inability to attend competitions, and poor performance following travel. Therefore, TRPBs are recognised as both a horse-related risk to humans and a human-related risk to horses. From the literature, it is apparent that TRPBs are common throughout the entire equine industry, and a YouTube keyword search of ‘horse trailer loading’ produced over 67,000 results, demonstrating considerable interest in this topic and the variety of solutions suggested. Drawing upon articles published over the last 35 years, this review summarises current knowledge on TRPBs and provides recommendations on their identification, management, and prevention. It appears that a positive human-horse relationship, in-hand pre-training, systematic training for loading and travelling, appropriate horse handling, and the vehicle driving skills of the transporters are crucial to minimise the incidence of TRPBs. In-hand pre-training based on correct application of the principles of learning for horses and horse handlers, habituation to loading and travelling, and self-loading appear to minimise the risk of TRPBs and are therefore strongly recommended to safeguard horse and horse-handler health and welfare. This review indicates that further research and education with respect to transport management are essential to substantially decrease the incidence of TRPBs in horses.

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“…In horses these methods have again previously been reported as part of behaviour directed research; especially the operant conditioning is widely discussed (Brubacker and Udell, 2016;Padalino et al, 2016;Starling et al, 2013;Valenchon et al, 2013a). However, it seems reasonable to also apply these methods to the motor learning and training processes for performance of athletic skills.…”

Section: Conditional Learningmentioning

confidence: 99%

Muscular and neuromotor control and learning in the athletic horse

McGowan

Hyytiäinen

2017

CEP

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Athletic performance or the kinematics of locomotion is ultimately the result of the actions of muscles. Muscular actions differ depending on the muscle group involved with anatomical and functional properties depending on the primary roles of the muscle; from stabilisation to powering locomotion. The functional (contractile and metabolic) properties of a muscle are determined by its fibre type or relative fibre type proportions in the muscle. The actions of muscle require the coordination of the nervous system with muscle contraction to produce movement or resist movement to avoid unwanted motion and tissue damage. The coordination of muscular action with the nervous system is termed neuromotor control and it requires precise proprioceptive input from the periphery, processing and input from the central nervous system (including learned or trained movements) and involves timing of muscle recruitment as well as muscle contraction. Training of muscles involves training for strength (or force generation) and stamina with measureable physiological changes with training including increased fibre size, alterations in fibre type, alterations in glycogen concentrations and lactate transport and alterations in mitochondrial and capillary density. As well as standard athletic training, skills training can make the difference in athletic performance and injury prevention in the equine athlete. This involves training of neuromotor control; training motor skills by motor relearning and conditional learning. Practical specific training techniques can be used in injury prevention, rehabilitation post injury and maintenance of the athlete. In this review we will focus on the thoracolumbar and hindlimb areas of the horse and review the importance of muscular control of locomotion, neuromotor control, the physiological effects of training and practical ways to maximise performance potential by specific physiotherapy skills training.

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Investigations Into Equine Transport-Related Problem Behaviors: Survey Results

Cited by 20 publications

References 26 publications

A Retrospective Survey of Factors Affecting the Risk of Incidents and Equine Injury During Non-Commercial Transportation by Road in the United Kingdom

A Retrospective Survey of Factors Affecting the Risk of Incidents and Equine Injury During Non-Commercial Transportation by Road in the United Kingdom

How to minimise the incidence of transport-related problem behaviours in horses: a review

Muscular and neuromotor control and learning in the athletic horse

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