Loading and Transportation Issues in Horses

Abstract

Refusal to load into a trailer or horsebox is a commonly seen behaviour in equines and one which is experienced by laypersons and professionals alike. Transportation of equines is highlighted as a prevalent welfare problem facing UK equines during a recent study. Problems with loading and travelling may occur in any equine at any life stage and may appear as significant issues from the first performance or develop gradually over time, increasing in frequency and intensity of their performance. These issues are likely to be maintained or worsened by repeated exposure to the travelling process and the use of inappropriate methods to attempt to resolve them. Behaviourally these problems present in a variety of ways including signs of stress, displacement and high levels of negative arousal. To fully understand the motivation for the behaviours identified, it is important that social, biological, psychological and functional analyses of the behavioural performance should be considered. Within this, there is also the element of learning, which is a constant aspect of the antecedent, behaviour and consequence continuum. Treatment protocols for travelling related issues should be holistic in nature to address the environmental, social, biological and psychological elements of the behavioural response. Information © The Author 2023