Assessment of positive emotions in horses: Implications for welfare and performance
1
p , 0.01). Horses with C whorls took more steps, i.e., more mobile in general (mean 5 11.4 6 18.4) than horses with CC whorls (mean 5 4.39 6 18.4). Laterality Indices (LI) were derived and significance determined for resulting z scores (p , 0.05). Analysis of LI indicated an overall left bias within the sample population (mean LI 5 7.27 6 18.4) regardless of whorl direction, however horses with a C whorl exhibited a stronger left bias (mean LI 5 11.4 6 17.2) than horses with CC whorls (mean LI 5 4.39 6 19.4). Pedometers are a low cost device which can be used to measure motor laterality in horses. A better under- standing of laterality may improve the welfare and general health of the horse and improve the safety of the rider/ handler. Understanding laterality limitations may lead to more effective and equally sympathetic training methods. Key words: equitation; hair whorls; lateralization; welfare ASSESSMENT OF POSITIVE EMOTIONS IN HORSES: IMPLICATIONS FOR WELFARE AND PERFORMANCE M. Stewart 1, *, R.B. Stratton 2 , N.J. Beausoleil 2 , K.J. Stafford 2 , G.M. Worth 1 , N.K. Waran 3 1 AgResearch Ltd, Animal Behaviour and Welfare Group, Hamilton, New Zealand 2 Massey University, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Palmerston North, New Zealand 3 Unitec Institute of Technology, Department of Natural Sciences, Auckland, New Zealand *Corresponding author: [email protected] Traditionally, the majority of concerns regarding animal welfare have focussed on negative emotional states, such as fear and pain. The ability to detect situations that elicit negative emotional states allows owners to minimise these situations, and thus reduce compromise of welfare and performance. However, it is now widely accepted that good welfare is not simply the absence of negative experiences, but also the presence of positive experiences. Knowledge re- garding what horses perceive as pleasant or unpleasant is limited and has important implications for stable manage- ment systems (e.g. training and husbandry). Research in this area has the potential to assist horse owners to minimise negative experiences and actively promote positive experi- ences, in order to improve welfare and performance. A multidisciplinary approach using both physiological and behavioral indices was used to investiagate positive emotions in horses. Autonomic activity has potential as a physiological marker of positive emotions, with parasympathetic activation predominating in a relaxed state. In addition to behavioral measures, non-invasive techniques for measuring autonomic activity, infrared thermography (IRT) and heart rate (HR) variability will be examined along with other physiological responses as potential markers. IRT, indirectly measures blood flow changes, by detecting small changes in skin temperature that are related to alterations in emotional state. Preliminary results show that HR decreased (27.0 6 2.7 bpm) and eye temperature appeared to increase during grooming. This may be associated with an increase in parasympathetic activity, and warrants further investigation. In addition to autonomic activity, secretion of endorphins is known to be associated with modulating emotional states and are maximal in blood draining the pituitary gland. We propose to use a blood sampling technique developed to allow non-surgical collection of pituitary venous blood, which is only possible in horses because of their unique anatomy. Horses are an ideal model for assessment of positive emotions because of their lack of fear of humans, ease of handling and measurement of cardiac activity, and the ability to sample pituitary venous blood. The ability to objectively identify situations perceived as positive would allow us to actively improve horse welfare, health and performance. Key words: horse welfare; positive emotions; fear THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT HEAD AND NECK POSITIONS – INCLUDING HYPERFLEXION – ON THE BEHAVIOR OF BASE-LEVEL WARM BLOOD RIDING HORSES DURING MODERATE EXERCISE M.C. VanDierendonck 1, *, J. Sleutjens 2 , I. Wijnberg 2 , W. Back 2,3 , H.J. VanderKolk 2 1 Utrecht University, Behavioural Biology group, Department of Biology, Utrecht, The Netherlands 2 Utrecht University, Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht, The Netherlands 3 Ghent University, Department of Surgery and Anaesthesiology of the Domestic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent, Belgium *Corresponding author: [email protected] The welfare of the equine athlete, with regards to the head and neck position (HNP) is under debate. To objectively quantify parameters of mental disturbance, the effect of predeter- mined HNPs on the behavior in base-level trained Dutch warm blood riding horses was determined. This is part of a large study including the neuromuscular functionality; upper airway functionality; biomechanics and physiological stress during training in different HNPs (approved by the ethical committee). Seven horses were studied on the lunge in 5 HNPs: HNP1-Unrestrained; HNP2-Neck raised; nose bridge around the vertical (‘on the bit’); HNP4-Neck lowered and flexed; nose pointing towards the chest; HNP5-Neck raised and extended, nose bridge in front of the vertical. HNP7- Neck lowered and flexed; nose bridge pointing towards the carpus. HNP4 and 7 are often associated with the term ‘hyperflexion’. After at least three weeks training - to prevent reactions due to novelty, muscle tiredness etc -, exercise tests were performed in each HNP on 5 days (order HNP at random). These consisted of a warming-up (8min), appli- cation of position (6min), trot 1 (15min), canter (4min), trot 2 (10min), walk (5min) and cooling down. External influences 296 Journal of Veterinary Behavior, Vol 6, No 5, September/October 2011
Transcript of Assessment of positive emotions in horses: Implications for welfare and performance
296 Journal of Veterinary Behavior, Vol 6, No 5, September/October 2011
p , 0.01). Horses with C whorls took more steps, i.e., moremobile in general (mean 5 11.4 6 18.4) than horses withCC whorls (mean 5 4.39 6 18.4). Laterality Indices (LI)were derived and significance determined for resulting zscores (p , 0.05). Analysis of LI indicated an overall leftbias within the sample population (mean LI 5 7.27 618.4) regardless of whorl direction, however horses with aC whorl exhibited a stronger left bias (mean LI 5 11.4 617.2) than horses with CC whorls (mean LI 5 4.39 619.4). Pedometers are a low cost device which can beused to measure motor laterality in horses. A better under-standing of laterality may improve the welfare and generalhealth of the horse and improve the safety of the rider/handler. Understanding laterality limitations may lead tomore effective and equally sympathetic training methods.
Key words: equitation; hair whorls; lateralization; welfare
ASSESSMENT OF POSITIVE EMOTIONS IN HORSES:IMPLICATIONS FOR WELFARE AND PERFORMANCEM. Stewart1,*, R.B. Stratton2, N.J. Beausoleil2,K.J. Stafford2, G.M. Worth1, N.K. Waran31AgResearch Ltd, Animal Behaviour and Welfare Group,Hamilton, New Zealand2Massey University, Institute of Veterinary, Animal andBiomedical Sciences, Palmerston North, New Zealand3Unitec Institute of Technology, Department of NaturalSciences, Auckland, New Zealand*Corresponding author: [email protected]
Traditionally, the majority of concerns regarding animalwelfare have focussed on negative emotional states, such asfear and pain. The ability to detect situations that elicitnegative emotional states allows owners to minimise thesesituations, and thus reduce compromise of welfare andperformance. However, it is now widely accepted that goodwelfare is not simply the absence of negative experiences, butalso the presence of positive experiences. Knowledge re-garding what horses perceive as pleasant or unpleasant islimited and has important implications for stable manage-ment systems (e.g. training and husbandry). Research in thisarea has the potential to assist horse owners to minimisenegative experiences and actively promote positive experi-ences, in order to improve welfare and performance. Amultidisciplinary approach using both physiological andbehavioral indiceswas used to investiagate positive emotionsin horses. Autonomic activity has potential as a physiologicalmarker of positive emotions,with parasympathetic activationpredominating in a relaxed state. In addition to behavioralmeasures, non-invasive techniques for measuring autonomicactivity, infrared thermography (IRT) and heart rate (HR)variability will be examined along with other physiologicalresponses as potential markers. IRT, indirectly measuresblood flow changes, by detecting small changes in skintemperature that are related to alterations in emotional state.
Preliminary results show that HR decreased (27.0 6 2.7bpm) and eye temperature appeared to increase duringgrooming. This may be associated with an increase inparasympathetic activity, and warrants further investigation.In addition to autonomic activity, secretion of endorphins isknown to be associated withmodulating emotional states andare maximal in blood draining the pituitary gland. Wepropose to use a blood sampling technique developed toallow non-surgical collection of pituitary venous blood,which is only possible in horses because of their uniqueanatomy.Horses are an idealmodel for assessment of positiveemotions because of their lack of fear of humans, ease ofhandling andmeasurement of cardiac activity, and the abilityto sample pituitary venous blood. The ability to objectivelyidentify situations perceived as positive would allow us toactively improve horse welfare, health and performance.
Key words: horse welfare; positive emotions; fear
THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT HEAD AND NECKPOSITIONS – INCLUDING HYPERFLEXION – ON THEBEHAVIOR OF BASE-LEVEL WARM BLOOD RIDINGHORSES DURING MODERATE EXERCISEM.C. VanDierendonck1,*, J. Sleutjens2, I. Wijnberg2,W. Back2,3, H.J. VanderKolk21Utrecht University, Behavioural Biology group,Department of Biology, Utrecht, The Netherlands2Utrecht University, Department of Equine Sciences,Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht, The Netherlands3Ghent University, Department of Surgery andAnaesthesiology of the Domestic Animals, Facultyof Veterinary Medicine, Ghent, Belgium*Corresponding author: [email protected]
Thewelfare of the equine athlete,with regards to the head andneck position (HNP) is under debate. To objectively quantifyparameters of mental disturbance, the effect of predeter-mined HNPs on the behavior in base-level trained Dutchwarm blood riding horses was determined. This is part of alarge study including the neuromuscular functionality; upperairway functionality; biomechanics and physiological stressduring training in different HNPs (approved by the ethicalcommittee). Seven horses were studied on the lunge in 5HNPs: HNP1-Unrestrained; HNP2-Neck raised; nose bridgearound the vertical (‘on the bit’); HNP4-Neck lowered andflexed; nose pointing towards the chest; HNP5-Neck raisedand extended, nose bridge in front of the vertical. HNP7-Neck lowered and flexed; nose bridge pointing towards thecarpus. HNP4 and 7 are often associated with the term‘hyperflexion’. After at least threeweeks training - to preventreactions due to novelty, muscle tiredness etc -, exercise testswere performed in each HNP on 5 days (order HNP atrandom). These consisted of a warming-up (8min), appli-cation of position (6min), trot1 (15min), canter (4min), trot2(10min), walk (5min) and cooling down. External influences
