Equine Activities Influence Horses’ Responses to Different Stimuli: Could This Have an Impact on Equine Welfare?

Self Cite

Fear is the leading cause of guide dog failure. Detecting the nature and causes of these fears as early as possible is the first step in preventing their occurrence. The process of habituation is a fundamental part of fear prevention. In this study, 11 puppies, all five months of age, underwent an emotional reactivity test (ERT) composed of 12 scored items, classified into three categories: unknown person (UP), sound and visual stimuli (SVS), and body sensitivity (BS). Salivary cortisol was also measured. Foster families were asked to complete a questionnaire concerning puppies’ habituation. The physiological data were correlated with UP (r = 0.71) and BS scores (r = 0.67), but not with SVS scores (r = 0.16), suggesting the ability of these dogs to control themselves when faced with the latter stimulus category. Additionally, the more time a puppy spent alone, the more likely it was to be afraid of SVS (p = 0.05). A correlation, albeit moderate, was detected between cortisol and habituation scores (r = 0.48). These results give us interesting avenues to explore, particularly regarding the importance of focusing on early puppy socialization and habituation to improve the numbers of guide dog candidates becoming successful guide dogs.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Early Evaluation of Fearfulness in Future Guide Dogs for Blind People

Menuge

Marcet-Rius

Jochem

et al. 2021

Self Cite

“…They also found that gate staff responded by using an "artificial aid", such as whipping over 40% of the time, which explains why TBI-4 made the downward comparison in relation to Image 3, stating "no one has a stock whip on him, no one is hitting him" (Section 4.2.2). Moreover, it can be suggested that many of the emotional and behavioural responses of the thoroughbreds in the images may, in fact, be learned or shaped by the human factor and the particular activity of racing as such [24]. The kind of relationship humans have with the horse shape the nature of the handling and training practices, and vice versa, the handling and training practices shape the nature of the horse-human relationship.…”

Section: The Horse-human Relationship As An Aspect Of a Holistic Notimentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Animal advocacy informants in the same study additionally identified routine training and husbandry practices, human-horse interactions and the “everyday life of horses” as “where the real welfare issues are” in thoroughbred racing [ 3 ]. These are issues discussed in the general equine welfare literature and include topics such as housing [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ], feeding [ 8 , 9 ], equine behaviour [ 10 ], equine emotions [ 11 ], equine welfare assessment [ 12 , 13 ], the application of equipment [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ], equine learning and training [ 22 , 23 ], the impact of equine activities on the horse [ 24 ], human handling during various forms of human-horse interactions [ 25 , 26 ], impacts of riding on behaviour and welfare [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ], horse-human relationships [ 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 ] and people’s ability and inability to recognise behavioural signs of equine distress and pain [ 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 ]. A theme that unites these issues and that allows one to make assessments as to the welfare impact is naturalness, i.e., what is natural for the horse and what is in the horse’s nature in relation to their species-specific, as well as individual, physiological; emotional; cognitive; social and behavioural characteristics, abilities and boundaries.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Naturalness and the Legitimacy of Thoroughbred Racing: A Photo-Elicitation Study with Industry and Animal Advocacy Informants

Bergmann

2020

The idea of what is natural has particular relevance in the thoroughbred racing and breeding discourse. It guides breeding regulations; influences how the thoroughbreds’ behaviour is perceived and has implications for husbandry, handling, training and racing practices. This study investigates how key industry and animal advocacy informants based in the US, Australia and the UK conceptualise naturalness within the context of common racing practices that potentially impact the horses’ welfare. The informants were interviewed using semi-structured interviewing and photo-elicitation. Four common images of thoroughbreds on race day were presented to elicit the informants’ responses. Differences emerged between how the two groups tended to describe the images and the role naturalness played in their conceptualisations. The findings were analysed using an updated version of the Layers of Engagement with Animal Protection developed by Bergmann to situate the informants’ conceptualisations of naturalness within the wider thoroughbred protection discourse. In conclusion, the industry informants tended to defend the status quo of common racing practices. They tended to naturalise and normalise these practices and downplay their welfare impact. This poses risks for thoroughbred welfare, which are amplified by misrepresentations of what is natural. With the public’s understanding of welfare and racing practices growing, racing’s legitimacy may be further questioned. Opportunities to leverage the potential of the notion of naturalness for thoroughbred protection are discussed.

“…Regarding the utility value of horses, it should be emphasised that a possibility of starting an exploratory activity is associated with a reward, so it can be used as reinforcement in the conditioning of instrumental responses [ 8 ]. Horses’ urge to explore correlates with behavioural and physiological responses to stimuli, which gives more information about the process of habituating or desensitizing horses to disturbing stimuli [ 27 ]. Due to various behavioural and physiological responses, the reactivity and emotional responses are different in horses taking part in different riding events.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploratory Behaviours of Primitive Horses Based on Konik: A Preliminary Study

Jastrzębska

Sadowska

Wnuk–Pawlak

et al. 2021

This study aimed at assessing the behaviour of Konik geldings and mares, kept in a stable and in a free-range system, during behavioural tests regarded as a determinant of the exploration urge. A total of 19 Konik horses kept in individual stables and in a free-range system were included in the study. The experiment was conducted in five phases separated by five-day breaks. A one-stage passive human test was performed during the first phase, a three-stage active human test—2nd phase, a three-stage unknown object test—3rd phase, a two-stage unknown surface test—4th phase, and a one-stage test of social isolation—5th phase. Ten attributes were analysed, including the horse sex and the keeping system. The results were also correlated with one another. Konik horses were found to show the urge to explore, although their behavioural responses are individual and stimulus dependent. In many cases, the horse sex and the keeping system influence the exploratory behaviour, although it is manifested by a greater intensity in geldings than in mares, and in free-range horses than in those kept in a stable. The study is regarded as preliminary due to the small number of horses in the study groups.