Equine

Non-invasive scalp recording of electroencephalograms and evoked potentials in unanesthetized horses using a 12-channel active electrode array

Despite the long history of the horse-human bond, our understanding of the brain and mind of horses remains limited due to the lack of methods to investigate their brain functions. This study introduces a novel methodology for completely non-invasive, multi-channel...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Imaging & Electrophysiological RecordingAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Itoh, K., Kikumura, N., Maeda, T. et al. 2024. Non-invasive scalp recording of electroencephalograms and evoked potentials in unanesthetized horses using a 12-channel active electrode array. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 11.

Anticipatory behaviour during the approach to feeding times as a measure of horse welfare

Anticipatory behaviour is increasingly being recognised as a measure of animal welfare. This behaviour is linked to reward sensitivity, which reflects the balance of positive and negative experiences. This study examined anticipatory behaviour in horses fed either ad libitum or...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Mata, F., Boyton, G., Young, T. 2024. Anticipatory behaviour during the approach to feeding times as a measure of horse welfare. Animals 14(24), 3677.

Impact of musical rhythm on blood, physiological and welfare parameters in stabled horses

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of two styles of classical music, based on different tempos (BPM), on the physiological and blood parameters of horses during social isolation and restriction of movements. First experiment was carried...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Oliveira, F. Y. U. de, Odakura, A. M., de Castro Burbarelli, M. F. et al. 2024. Impact of musical rhythm on blood, physiological and welfare parameters in stabled horses. Scientific Reports 14(1), 31311.

How should one design and position straw feeders in group-housed horses? A case study on occupancy and agonistic interactions at straw feeders in a large group of horses

As group housing of horses can be associated with increased injury risk especially when there are limited resources, the aim of this study was to allow initial, scientifically based recommendations regarding the positioning and design of straw feeders. Data collection...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Puttkammer, N., Hildebrandt, F., Krieter, J. et al. 2024. How should one design and position straw feeders in group-housed horses? A case study on occupancy and agonistic interactions at straw feeders in a large group of horses. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 280, 106423.

Horses can learn to identify joy and sadness against other basic emotions from human facial expressions

Recently, horses and other domestic mammals have been shown to perceive and react to human emotional signals, with most studies focusing on joy and anger. In this study, we tested whether horses can learn to identify human joyful and sad...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Human-Animal InteractionAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Jardat, P., Menard--Peroy, Z., Parias, C. et al. 2024. Horses can learn to identify joy and sadness against other basic emotions from human facial expressions. Behavioural Processes 220, 105081.

The effect of repeated blood harvesting from pregnant mares on haematological variables

Studies have been carried out on the effect of large-volume blood harvesting from horses, but they were performed on nonpregnant horses of various breeds other than Icelandic horses. This study aimed to investigate the effect on the haematological variables indicating...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological MeasurementAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Oddsdóttir, C., Jónsdóttir, H. K., Sturludóttir, E. et al. 2024. The effect of repeated blood harvesting from pregnant mares on haematological variables. Animals 14(5), 745.

Noncontact infrared thermometer measurements offer a reasonable alternative to rectal temperature measurement in afebrile horses

OBJECTIVE To assess the repeatability of infrared thermometer temperature readings and evaluate the correlation between digital rectal temperature and infrared thermometer temperatures taken at different locations in healthy afebrile horses. ANIMALS 101 afebrile horses ≥ 1 year old. METHODS Digital...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological MeasurementAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Zobrist, C. N., Bishop, R. C., McCoy, A. M. 2024. Noncontact infrared thermometer measurements offer a reasonable alternative to rectal temperature measurement in afebrile horses. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 262(6), 791–797.

Differences in behaviour, facial expressions and locomotion between positive anticipation and frustration in horses

Animal welfare is a result of accumulated negative and positive emotions. Therefore, it is important to limit the former and promote the latter. Doing so requires a precise identification of these emotions. The aim of this study was to characterize...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Emotion, Pain, & SentienceAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Phelipon, R., Ascione, A., Ruet, A. et al. 2024. Differences in behaviour, facial expressions and locomotion between positive anticipation and frustration in horses. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 274, 106262.

An effective environmental enrichment framework for the continual improvement of production animal welfare

Substrates and objects are provided to farm animals on the assumption that they improve animal welfare by enriching the environment, but these often fail to consider the extent to which an environmental enrichment (EE) improves animal welfare, if at all....

Year Published: 2023Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Cattle, Chicken, Equine, Fowl, Goat, Pig, Sheep

Citation: Taylor, P. S., Schrobback, P., Verdon, M. et al. 2023. An effective environmental enrichment framework for the continual improvement of production animal welfare. Animal Welfare 32, e14.

Predictive modeling toward refinement of behavior-based pain assessment in horses

After 25 years of studies on methodologies for behavioral assessment of equine pain, the Unesp-Botucatu Horse Acute Pain Scale (UHAPS) and the Orthopedic Composite Pain Scale (CPS) were recently considered suboptimal instruments to assess pain in hospitalized horses. However, the...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Trindade, P. H. E., Barreto da Rocha, P., Driessen, B. et al. 2023. Predictive modeling toward refinement of behavior-based pain assessment in horses. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 267, 106059.