The use of the technology in equitation science: A panacea or abductive science?

Randle, Hayley; Steenbergen, Menke; Roberts, Kirsty; Hemmings, Andrew

doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2017.02.017

Cited by 17 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 141 publications

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“…The earlier model (Polar S810) has been validated in horses 44 , 45 and although Parker et al 44 found discrepancies existed during movement, both Parker et al 44 and Ille et al 45 found better agreement when the horse was static (as they were during the current study). Randle et al 46 proposed that recent technological improvements (i.e. the newer Polar V800) could improve the reliability of the data generated and Giles et al 47 demonstrated that (in humans) the V800 was indeed an improvement over the earlier models.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Blink rate as a measure of stress and attention in the domestic horse (Equus caballus)

Mott

Hawthorne

McBride

2020

Sci Rep

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Measuring animal stress is fundamentally important for assessing animal emotional state and welfare. Conventional methods of quantifying stress (cortisol levels, heart rate/heart rate variability) require specialist equipment and are not instantly available. Spontaneous blink rate (SBR) has previously been used to measure stress responses in humans and may provide a non-invasive method for measuring stress in other animal species. Here we investigated the use of SBR as a measure of stress in the domestic horse. SBR was measured before and during a low-stress event (sham clipping) and compared with heart rate variability and salivary cortisol. For the entire sample, there was a reduction in SBR (startle response) during the first minute of clipping. For horses reactive to clipping, the initial reduction in SBR was followed by an increase above baseline whereas the SBR of the non-reactive horses quickly returned to baseline. For the entire sample, SBR correlated with heart rate variability and salivary cortisol. We have demonstrated that SBR is a valid fast alternative measure of stress in horses, but the initial 'startle' response must be considered when using this parameter as a measure of animal stress.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Blink rate as a measure of stress and attention in the domestic horse (Equus caballus)

Mott

Hawthorne

McBride

2020

Sci Rep

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“…There has been much debate surrounding the ethical use of the horse in sport, and when this use may become abuse (Campbell, 2013). The impact of training, competitive demands and management practices have been evaluated to differing extents (for example, Schmidt et al, 2010;Peeters et al, 2013;Yarnell et al, 2015), with the focus of many studies being on technological advances to measure the physical impact of specific pieces of equipment, the rider's actions and training methods (see Derksen and Clayton, 2007;Randle et al, 2017). There has been less focus on the development of methods for assessing the subjective experience of the horse.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing equine emotional state

Hall

Randle

Pearson

et al. 2018

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

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The scientific study of animal emotion has recently become an important focus for animal behaviour and welfare researchers. For horses used by humans for work, recreation or sport, the question of the significance of their life experiences in terms of their emotional response, is an important one if we are to provide for their welfare needs. Horses have received relatively less scientific attention than many livestock species when it comes to investigating emotional state or affective experience, although their behavioural responses during sporting or recreational performance are often described anecdotally using terminology indicating an underlying presumption of equine emotions. Indeed, the international governing body for equestrian sport, the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), include the concept of 'the Happy Equine Athlete' into their rules, as a key objective during training and competition. This review presents available evidence to date of the physiological, behavioural and cognitive components of equine emotion and evaluates the extent to which the question concerning 'how horses feel' can be answered. The characterization of equine emotion in terms of level of arousal and valence, based on physiological, behavioural and cognitive indicators, offers a way forward to determine the impact of different situations and experiences on horses during their working lives. There is a need to develop robust validated methods for accessing equine emotions, to underpin a universally agreed method for/approach to providing an accurate assessment of equine welfare that can be utilized in a variety of contexts. This will 2 provide a means of monitoring and improving the horse's experience, ensuring that the horse enjoys a good life, rather than one that is just worth living.

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“…Public opinion may be clouded by anthropomorphism or ignorance of the needs of different species, leading to emotional rather than objective decision-making. Unfortunately, limited objective evidence exists to justify many common practices used in horse sports that are currently perceived as detrimental by the public; for example, whip use [8][9][10]. Nevertheless, the Sporthorse Welfare Foundation agrees with Campbell [1] that the use of horses in sport is ethically justifiable, if an ethical framework can be applied to safeguard horse welfare by supporting stakeholders to make evidence-informed decisions on what should or should not be carried out in specific situations [8,11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Delphi Study to Determine International and National Equestrian Expert Opinions on Domains and Sub-Domains Essential to Managing Sporthorse Health and Welfare in the Olympic Disciplines

Williams,

Berg,

Clayton

et al. 2023

Animals

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The public is increasingly questioning equestrianism’s social license to operate. While the focus historically centered on horseracing, increased scrutiny is now being placed on how dressage, showjumping, and eventing are addressing equine management and welfare concerns. Nominated equestrian federation and equestrian organization experts (n = 104) directly involved in international and/or national-level horse sports took part in a four-stage, iterative Delphi to obtain consensus on what factors should be considered essential to manage sporthorse health and welfare. Five core domains were agreed as essential: training management, competition management, young horse management, health status and veterinary management, and the horse–human relationship. Two further domains: stable and environmental management, and welfare assessment were rated as important but not essential, as most respondents felt that these areas were already managed well. Participants felt increased education and guidance combined with further policy development and regulation are needed to support stakeholders to optimize sporthorse management. An appetite to engage with research to generate evidence that promotes sporthorse welfare was evident. The development of a sporthorse welfare charter and evidence-based guidelines to inform the management and monitoring of sporthorses’ health and welfare are recommended to provide horses with a good life and to safeguard the future of equestrian sports.

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The use of the technology in equitation science: A panacea or abductive science?

Cited by 17 publications

References 141 publications

Blink rate as a measure of stress and attention in the domestic horse (Equus caballus)

Blink rate as a measure of stress and attention in the domestic horse (Equus caballus)

Assessing equine emotional state

A Delphi Study to Determine International and National Equestrian Expert Opinions on Domains and Sub-Domains Essential to Managing Sporthorse Health and Welfare in the Olympic Disciplines

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