Towards a more objective assessment of equine personality using behavioural and physiological observations from performance test training

Borstel, Uta König von; Pasing, Stephanie; Gauly, Matthias

doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2011.10.007

Cited by 41 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…While instructors and riders will generally be looking to improve ridden behavior, veterinary surgeons will be assessing soundness and other health parameters. In the study by König von Borstel et al (2011) where ride-ability was judged to be better when the horse predominantly carried its nose behind the vertical, the assessment was carried out by riders rather than by judges on the ground. The latter study was conducted in Germany and may reflect international differences in equestrianism, However, the riders in the current study also appeared to consider the position of the nasal plane in front of the vertical to be a negative sign, even when observing the horse from 'the ground'.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, there is evidence that over-flexion of the neck (and the consequent positioning of the nasal plane behind the vertical) is still considered by some as a positive sign in the ridden horse (McGreevy et al, 2010). For example, during official stallion performance tests higher scores for ride-ability were awarded to horses that were ridden with their nose-line predominantly behind the vertical, than to those ridden with their nose-line at the vertical (König von Borstel et al, 2011). Behavioral events such as grinding the teeth and agitation of the tail are considered to be signs of nervousness, tension or resistance on the part of the horse (FEI, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Assessing ridden horse behavior: Professional judgment and physiological measures

Hall

Kay

Yarnell

2014

Journal of Veterinary Behavior

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1 These authors contributed equally to the work. AbstractThe assessment of ridden horse behavior by twelve equestrian professionals (riding instructors n=4, riders n=4, veterinary surgeons n=4) was compared with observed behavior and physiological measures (salivary cortisol and eye temperature). Horses (n=10) were ridden at walk, trot and canter in a pre-defined test of approximately 2-3 minutes. Video footage of the ridden test was analyzed using Observer XT 10 and duration of behavioral states/events recorded. Saliva was collected in the stable, after the warm up (WU) and at 0, 5, 15, 30 and 60 minutes post-ridden-test (RT). The saliva was analyzed for cortisol (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and the difference between minimum and maximum concentration (ng/ml) and associated sample times recorded. Eye temperature was measured using an infrared thermal camera (MobIR® M8), using static images (stable, after WU, after RT), and video footage (WU and RT) with maximum eye temperatures derived from set intervals. Mean maximum eye temperatures during ridden work were calculated. Video footage of the ridden test was observed by the twelve equestrian professionals who each scored the horses on seven performance parameters derived from the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) rules for dressage events and the training scale of the German National Equestrian Federation (relaxation, energy, compliance, suppleness, confidence, motivation and happiness). These scores were compared with behavioral and physiological measures and correlations investigated (Spearman's Rank Order Correlation). Higher percentage durations of high head carriage (ranging from 0-50.75% of RT) and the nose carried at an angle in front of the vertical (0-74.29% of RT) correlated with overall less favorable assessment by the equestrian professionals (p<0.05) and 2 only the instructors associated neutral head carriage (32.76-91.92% of RT) and vertical nasal angle (0.97-68.90% of RT) as a positive sign (p=0.03and p=0.04 respectively). Increases in salivary cortisol positively correlated with the duration of low head carriage (p<0.05), suggesting that this way of going increased the demands placed on the horse. Increased eye temperature positively correlated with duration of nose carried behind the vertical when ridden (p=0.02) and negatively correlated with duration of nose carried in front of the vertical (p=0.01). Some discrepancy between physiological evidence and professional assessment of ridden horse behavior was evident as were differences between groups of professionals. Further evaluation of the association between behavioral signs and physiological measures is now required to ensure that the assessment of ridden horse performance is based on valid and consistent measures.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing ridden horse behavior: Professional judgment and physiological measures

Hall

Kay

Yarnell

2014

Journal of Veterinary Behavior

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“…These findings could not be confirmed here, possibly because a small number of Thoroughbreds were tested. The greatest differences were betweenWarmbloods and Ponies or draft horses and heavy Warmbloods, as also shown by König von Borstel et al (2011). One explanation why especially the Poniess show low reactivity (high reactivity scores) in the test could be that ponies are mostly ridden by young children or teens.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…High means with low variation in horses' personality traits result in an inefficient selection and no genetic improvement. To improve this situation in horses many efforts have been made, under experimental conditions, especially to measure fear reactivity, activity, reactivity, emotionality, and exploration (Christensen et al, 2005;Lansade and Bouissou, 2008;König von Borstel et al, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of the interior characteristics of Slovak warmblood horses and Lipizzan horses

Horná¹,

Halo²,

Mlyneková³

et al. 2018

JCEA

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One of the important factors that significantly affects the intensity and content of training and determines the performance it the horse interior. Character and temperament traits are described in the breeding goals of each breed of horse. The aim of this study was to analyze the horse interior and comparison the interior characteristics of two studied horse breeds Slovak warmblood horses and Lipizzan horses. Into the analysis were included 65 horses from National Stud Farm Topoľčianky, Slovak warmblood horses (n1 = 33) and Lipizzan horses (n2 = 32).Interior was analyzed through a questionnaire with 13 indicators with 10 point system, where 10 being the highest rating. Slovak warmblood horses become the highest ratings (average 89.1 pt, 74.42%) and Lipizzan horses (86.1 pt, 66.2%), so both breeds of horses can be considered as the breeds with balanced characteristics of temperament and character. But Lipizzan horses are more balanced, because their results had lower variability. There were insignificant differences between the analyzed horses in the studied breeds. Nevertheless, a several analyzes of individual indicators showed that between the Slovak warmblood horses and Lipizzan horses there is a significant difference in a single indicator of interior -10 -Stress managing. In particular, it has been shown that Lipizzan horses manage stress significantly better than Slovak warmblood horses.Keywords: character, horse, interior, Lipizzan, Slovak warmblood, temperament Abstrakt Jedným z dôležitých faktorov, ktorý podstatne ovplyvňuje intenzitu a náplň tréningu a udáva výkonnosť koní je interiér. Vlastnosti charakteru a temperamentu sú popísané v chovných cieľoch jednotlivých plemien koní. Cieľom našej práce bolo analyzovať interiér koňa a porovnať interiérové vlastnosti dvoch skúmaných plemien koní, slovenského teplokrvníka a lipicana. Do analýzy bolo zahrnutých 65 koní z Národného žrebčína Topoľčianky, slovenský teplokrvník (n1 = 33) a lipican (n2 = 32). Interiér sme analyzovali prostredníctvom dotazníka s 13 ukazovateľmi 10 bodovým systémom, kde 10 bola najvyššia známka. Kone plemena slovenský teplokrvník získali najvyššie hodnotenie (priemerne 89,1 bodov, 74,42%) a kone plemena lipican (86,1 bodov, 66,2%), takže obe plemená môžeme považovať za plemená s vyrovnanými vlastnosťami charakteru a temperamentu. Avšak kone plemena lipican sú viac vyrovnané, pretože ich výsledky majú nižšiu variabilitu. Zaznamenali sme štatisticky nevýznamné rozdiely medzi analyzovanými plemenami koní. Avšak niekoľko analýz jednotlivých ukazovateľov ukázalo, že medzi koňmi slovenského teplokrvníka a lipicana je štatisticky významný rozdiel v jedinom ukazovateli interiéru -10 -Zvládanie stresu. Konkrétne sa ukázalo, že kone plemena lipican zvládajú stres významne lepšie ako kone plemena slovenský teplokrvník.

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“…To date there have been a number of studies set up to evaluate specific factors that may affect the ridden horse, including tack and equipment (e.g. Manfredi et al, 2005;Heleski et al, 2009;Quick and Warren-Smith, 2009), training (McLean, 2008;Egenvall et al, 2012) and the rider (König von Borstel et al, 2011a). Such studies form the basis for the integrated discipline of equitation science.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolving protocols for research in equitation science

Pierard

Hall

Borstel

et al. 2015

Journal of Veterinary Behavior

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Within the emerging discipline of Equitation Science the application of consistent methodology, including robust objective measures, is required for sound scientific evaluation. This report aims to provide an evaluation of current methodology and to propose some initial guidelines for future research. The value of research, especially that involving small sample sizes, can be enhanced by the application of consistent methodology and reporting enabling results to be compared across studies. This paper includes guidelines for experimental design in studies involving the ridden horse. Equine ethograms currently used are reviewed and factors to be considered in the development of a riddenhorse ethogram are evaluated. An assessment of methods used to collect behavioral and physiological data is included and the use of equipment for measurements (e.g., rein-tension and pressure-sensing instruments) is discussed. Equitation science is a new discipline, subject to evolving viewpoints on research foci and design. Technological advances may improve the accuracy and detail of measurements, but must be used within appropriate and valid experimental designs.

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Towards a more objective assessment of equine personality using behavioural and physiological observations from performance test training

Cited by 41 publications

References 25 publications

Assessing ridden horse behavior: Professional judgment and physiological measures

Assessing ridden horse behavior: Professional judgment and physiological measures

Comparison of the interior characteristics of Slovak warmblood horses and Lipizzan horses

Evolving protocols for research in equitation science

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