Equine

Classical music reduces acute stress of domestic horses

Domestic horses are regularly subjected to stressful situations due to management practices, such as social isolation, transport and farriery or, in general due to exposure to new/sudden stimuli. These situations may eventually be harmful to the horses' welfare, possibly altering...

Year Published: 2016Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Relocation & TransportAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Neveux, C., Ferard, M., Dickel, L. et al. 2016. Classical music reduces acute stress of domestic horses. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 15, 81. (12th International Society of Equitation Science (ISES) Conference Abstract)

Do stabled horses show more undesirable behaviors during handling than field-kept ones?

Undesirable behavior (e.g. biting, kicking and aggression) during handling is a growing concern in the equine industry, and is likely to compromise horse-human relationships. The present study, carried out over 3 months, investigated the expression of desirable and undesirable behaviors...

Year Published: 2016Topics: HousingAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Losonci, Z., Berry, J., Paddison, J. 2016. Do stabled horses show more undesirable behaviors during handling than field-kept ones? Journal of Veterinary Behavior 15, 93. (12th International Society of Equitation Science (ISES) Conference Abstract)

Effects of three non-confrontational handling techniques on the behavior of horses during a simulated mildly aversive veterinary procedure

During mildly aversive healthcare procedures, horses often exhibit behaviors that may interrupt or prolong the procedure. Handler response often includes increased restraint and/or positive punishment, which can be ineffective or counterproductive. The purpose of this study was to compare the...

Year Published: 2016Topics: Handling, Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Watson, J., McDonnell, S. 2016. Effects of three non-confrontational handling techniques on the behavior of horses during a simulated mildly aversive veterinary procedure. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 15, 85-86. (12th International Society of Equitation Science (ISES) Conference Abstract)

Does a commercial pheromone application reduce separation anxiety in separated horse pairs?

Horses may display increased locomotory and vocal activity when separated from their preferred partners, which can increase anxiety levels and injury risk. This study evaluated physiological and behavioral evidence of separation anxiety in separated preferred partners, and the potential stress-reducing...

Year Published: 2016Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Collyer, P. B., Wilson, H. S. 2016. Does a commercial pheromone application reduce separation anxiety in separated horse pairs? Journal of Veterinary Behavior 15, 94. (12th International Society of Equitation Science (ISES) Conference Abstract)

The ‘social box’ offers stallions the possibility to have increased social interactions

In order to give individually housed stallions the opportunity to have more social interactions, the Swiss national stud farm investigated a separation wall called ‘social box'. Sixteen adult Franches-Montagnes breeding stallions were housed for 3 weeks in conventional boxes (CB)...

Year Published: 2016Topics: Housing, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Zollinger, A., Wyss, C., Bardou, D. et al. 2016. The ‘social box' offers stallions the possibility to have increased social interactions. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 15, 84. (12th International Society of Equitation Science (ISES) Conference Abstract)

Pasturing in herds after housing in horseboxes induces a positive cognitive bias in horses

Horses are kept in various housing systems, for example, with conspecifics in horse pens or singly in horseboxes, with or without pasturing. To provide appropriate living conditions for horses, it is necessary to know in which conditions they feel well...

Year Published: 2016Topics: Husbandry & Management, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Löckener, S., Reese, S., Erhard, M. et al. 2016. Pasturing in herds after housing in horseboxes induces a positive cognitive bias in horses. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 11, 50-55.

Agricultural animals as biomedical models: Occupational health and safety considerations

The use of agricultural animals in biomedical research is increasing. Their overall size and metabolic rate, organ size, longer gestation period, and other physiological similarities make them good candidates for animal models of human disease. There are a number of...

Year Published: 2018Topics: Handling, HousingAnimal Type: Cattle, Chicken, Equine, Fowl, Goat, Pig, Sheep

Citation: Edwards, G. L., Michael, J. A., Parks., A. 2018. Agricultural animals as biomedical models: Occupational health and safety considerations. ILAR Journal 59(2), 161-167.

Stall architecture influences horses’ behaviour and the prevalence and type of stereotypies

Despite the spatial and social restrictions it causes, single stall housing still prevails in sport and riding school horses, leading to the emergence of abnormal behaviours such as stereotypic or abnormal repetitive behaviours (SB/ARB). In the present study, we investigated...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Abnormal/Problematic Behavior, HousingAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Lesimple, C., Gautier, E., Benhajali, H. et al. 2019. Stall architecture influences horses' behaviour and the prevalence and type of stereotypies. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 219, 104833.

Changes in saliva analytes correlate with horses’ behavioural reactions to an acute stressor: A pilot study

Acute stress induces an array of behavioural reactions in horses that vary between individuals. Attempts to relate behavioural patterns and physiological responses have not always given clear-cut results. Here, we measured the changes in a panel of salivary components: salivary...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological Measurement, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Contreras-Aguilar, M. D., Henry, S., Coste, C. et al. 2019. Changes in saliva analytes correlate with horses' behavioural reactions to an acute stressor: A pilot study. Animals 9(11), 993.

Eye blink rates and eyelid twitches as a non-invasive measure of stress in the domestic horse

Physiological changes provide indices of stress responses, however, behavioural measures may be easier to determine. Spontaneous eye blink rate has potential as a non-invasive indicator of stress. Eyelid movements, along with heart rate (HR) and behaviour, from 33 horses were...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Merkies, K., Ready, C., Farkas, L. et al. 2019. Eye blink rates and eyelid twitches as a non-invasive measure of stress in the domestic horse. Animals 9(58), 62.