Equine

Enclosed versus ring feeders: Effects of round-bale feeder type on horse behavior and welfare

In an effort to minimize the amount of hay wasted from a round bale, horse owners generally surround the bale with a round-bale feeder. While often necessary as a supplemental feed source, this feeding technique restricts the space each horse...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Melvin, M. V., Costello, E., Colpoys, J. D. 2020. Enclosed versus ring feeders: Effects of round-bale feeder type on horse behavior and welfare. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 39, 41-46.

Equid assessment, research and scoping (EARS): The development and implementation of a new equid welfare assessment and monitoring tool

The assessment of animal welfare poses numerous challenges, yet an emerging approach is the consolidation of existing knowledge into new frameworks which can offer standardised approaches to welfare assessment across a variety of contexts. Multiple tools exist for measuring the...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Raw, Z., Rodrigues, J., Rickards, K. et al. 2020. Equid assessment, research and scoping (EARS): The development and implementation of a new equid welfare assessment and monitoring tool. Animals 10(2), 297.

Equine Facial Action Coding System for determination of pain-related facial responses in videos of horses

During the last decade, a number of pain assessment tools based on facial expressions have been developed for horses. While all tools focus on moveable facial muscles related to the ears, eyes, nostrils, lips, and chin, results are difficult to...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Rashid, M., Silventoinen, A., Gleerup, K. B. et al. 2020. Equine Facial Action Coding System for determination of pain-related facial responses in videos of horses. PLOS ONE 15(11), e0231608.

Evaluation of stress response under a standard euthanasia protocol in horses using analysis of heart rate variability

The effects of a standard protocol for euthanasia on heart rate variability (HRV) as a consequence of stress response were analyzed in this prospective clinical study. The HRV was determined in 40 horses undergoing euthanasia due to various reasons, at...

Year Published: 2020Topics: EuthanasiaAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Gehlen, H., Loschelder, J., Merle, R. et al. 2020. Evaluation of stress response under a standard euthanasia protocol in horses using analysis of heart rate variability. Animals 10(3), 485.

In-person caretaker visits disrupt ongoing discomfort behavior in hospitalized equine orthopedic surgical patients

Horses have evolved to show little indication of discomfort or disability when in the presence of potential predators, including humans. This natural characteristic complicates the recognition of pain in equine patients. It has been our clinical impression that, whenever a...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Torcivia, C., McDonnell, S. 2020. In-person caretaker visits disrupt ongoing discomfort behavior in hospitalized equine orthopedic surgical patients. Animals 10(2), 210.

A ten-stage protocol for assessing the welfare of individual non-captive wild animals: Free-roaming horses (Equus ferus caballus) as an example

Knowledge of the welfare status of wild animals is vital for informing debates about the ways in which we interact with wild animals and their habitats. Currently, there is no published information about how to scientifically assess the welfare of...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: All/General, Equine

Citation: Harvey, A., Beausoleil, N., Ramp, D. et al. 2020. A ten-stage protocol for assessing the welfare of individual non-captive wild animals: Free-roaming horses (Equus ferus caballus) as an example. Animals 10(1), 148.

Indicators of horse welfare: State-of-the-art

Animal welfare is defined as a chronic state reflecting an individual’s subjective perception of its situation. Because it is possible to be in a good welfare state and nevertheless experience acute fear or pain, and conversely, short-term positive emotions can...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Lesimple, C. 2020. Indicators of horse welfare: State-of-the-art. Animals 10(2), 294.

Behavioral and hormonal effects of 2 weaning methods in trotter mares

Given the paucity of published data on the effects of artificial weaning on mares, the aim of the present study was to investigate the behavioral and hormonal effects of two different weaning methods in trotter mares. In stud 1 (10...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Husbandry & Management, Rearing & WeaningAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Falomo, M. E., Gabai, G., Franchini, G. et al. 2020. Behavioral and hormonal effects of 2 weaning methods in trotter mares. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 35, 47-53.

Inside the interaction: Contact with familiar humans modulates heart rate variability in horses

A human–animal relationship can be developed through subsequent interactions, affected by the positive or negative emotional valence of the proceeding one. Horses implement a process of categorization to classify humans with whom they interact as positive, negative, or neutral stimuli...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Scopa, C., Greco, A., Contalbrigo, L. et al. 2020. Inside the interaction: Contact with familiar humans modulates heart rate variability in horses. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 7, 582759.

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

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...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Mott, R. O., Hawthorne, S. J., McBride, S. D. 2020. Blink rate as a measure of stress and attention in the domestic horse (Equus caballus). Scientific Reports 10(1), 21409.